Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
COMMUNICATION
MONTHLY JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH DX CLUB
SEPTEMBER 2014 EDITION 478
1974
2014
Contents
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-11
12-21
22-23
24-26
27
News from HQ
Open to Discussion
Twickenham Meeting
DXing in the 1970s
40 Years of BDXC !
Listening at Sea 1970s
Listening Post
Collectors Corner
28
29
30-31
31
32-34
35
36-37
38-39
40-44
45-46
46-49
50-51
51-61
62-66
67
68
DX News
Beyond the Horizon
MW Logbook
Tropical Logbook
HF Logbook
Alternative Airwaves
Contributors
QSL Gallery 1970s
TREASURER
SECRETARY
PRINTING
AUDIO CIRCLE
MEMBERS REP
Publications
Broadcasts in English - Summer edition (A14) Extra copies available while stocks last: priced:
UK 3, Europe 4, 5 or 5 IRCs, Rest of World 5, US$7 or 6 IRCs.
Radio Stations in the United Kingdom - 24th edition (2014) BDXCs comprehensive guide to
MW and FM radio stations in the UK and Ireland. Prices include postage: UK 4 (two copies 7),
Europe 6, 8, 7 IRCs (two copies 12), Rest of World 7, $12 or 8 IRCs.
Reception Report Forms - English language forms, featuring the BDXC logo, suitable for
sending reports to most broadcasters. Price per 25. UK 3; Overseas: 5, 6, US$8 or 7 IRCs.
Please send all orders (UK cheques/ Postal Orders payable to British DX Club) to:
British DX Club, 19 Park Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6PF ($ or - cash or Paypal only)
All prices above include postage.
Paypal payments to bdxc@bdxc.org.uk (please add 5% to cover Paypal fees).
Payments also welcome by bank transfer - please email for account details.
One year:
17
30 / 38** / $48**
10 / 12** / $15**
Two years:
33.00
59 / 74** / $95**
20 / 24** / $30**
Please make Cheques/Postal Orders payable to British DX Club. All applications and renewals
to club treasurer (see front page for address). **Payments in Euros or US$ - cash / Paypal only.
Paypal payments should be sent to bdxc@bdxc.org.uk (please add 5% to cover our Paypal fees)
Renewals also welcome by bank transfer at no extra cost - please email for account details.
DX Diary
1-30 September 2014: AWR 2014 DX Contest: Rare, Unusual, Unique QSLs - see full
details in Augusts Communication pages 16-17.
Friday 19 to Monday 22 September: 2014 European DX Council Conference in France.
Several BDXC members will be attending. Details at www.edxc.org
Saturday 4 October: Reading DX meeting (Reading International Radio Group) 1430-1700
BST in room 3 at Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC), 35-39 London Street, Reading
RG1 4PS. Tel: Mike Barraclough 01462 643899 E-mail barraclough.mike@gmail.com
(Future Reading meeting dates: 13 December 2014, 21 February 2015, 25 April 2015)
For other events see also the club website www.bdxc.org.uk and www.rsgb.org/events/index.php
New Members
A warm welcome to the following new members:
BDXC 2403 Henk Stelte, Utrecht, Netherlands
Front/Back pages A selection of QSLs from the 1970s to celebrate 40 years of the club!
3
Open To Discussion
with David Morris - mailbox@bdxc.org.uk
It seems like a busy time in radio land, what with Radio Nord being heard loud and clear on
6065, Steam Fair FM, my favourite UK RSL, from the Great Dorset Steam Fair booming in with a
much better signal than previous years, 40 years of the BDXC, and 40 years since the closure of
RNI and Veronica.
And if that is not enough to keep you occupied, here is OTD with an opening comment which is
typical of many: IAN BIGGAR writes to say thanks to you and the team for doing such a
fantastic job producing a first class read every month. Even though, like everyone else, I am
now overloaded with information, it is almost a relief for that white envelope to drop through the
door every month. I always find something of interest within those pages. Please try and resist
the temptation to convert to an on-line version, although I know it would being many benefits in
terms of producing the magazine. I sound like a technophobe, which I am not. I suppose there
are just some traditional aspects that I hope will be preserved.
We have a few radio presenters in our midst and JULIAN WATSON tells us he had some time
today so I transferred the highlights of another TWR DX special - this one was from Saturday,
21st April 1984 at 2.30 pm. Compared with the previous recording [heard on BDXC Audio Circle]
this one did have some reception dips - it was also the transfer over to BST from GMT.
We also made a programme for May of that year - we sent it to Monte Carlo but it didn't go
out as the Germans decided to pull funding for the 15 minutes of transmitter time. I think RMC
charged about 300 - 500 per quarter hour at that stage. I believe Peter Hamm (the main
presenter) is still about in Lewisham, although he left them when they moved out of London to
Biggleswade - I'll have to knock on the door next time I'm in the capital to see if he kept any
archives from the studio. As for me, I was just very young and somewhat in awe of being part of
the radio experience in London, coming as I did from rural Wiltshire. I suppose it was my star
turn on SW! I do remember having a very sore throat on that day of recording, and I noticed my
voice slightly breaking at the end - just the adrenalin keeping me going...
The show is about 11' long [it will feature on the September/October Audio Circle
programme presented by Gary Drew]. Some buzzes were also due to the fact my parents had
the TV going downstairs, which did have an effect on both the short wave and MW from
Monaco. I've also attached pictures of the source tape, transfer process and the very Toshiba
radio cassette mentioned in the programme. The old workhorse still plays radio great, but the
cassette motor wore out a few years ago.
Unfortunately, the photographs would not reproduce clearly, but you can do the next best
thing, and that is to listen to the September / October edition of the BDXC Audio Circle details
in the magazine next month but available before then on the BDXC Yahoo email group.
Julian finishes by saying he remembers from an earlier edition of Communication there was
a reference to a member called ANDY MARTINUYK from Moscow. If Andy would like an audio
copy of a penpal request he made to Radio Luxembourg
in 1990, please contact OTD.
DAVID CRYSTAL writes from Israel and makes
observations with regard to the Tecsun PL-360 and the
Kaito KA1107 (pictured). If your main receiver when you
are on holiday is the Tecsun, I suggest you obtain a Kaito
KA1107 as it is almost ultralight, it is dual conversion, and
it has an external aerial jack. The Tecsun is best with
strong signals and known frequencies. Thanks to a
sensitivity switch you have at least seven antennae with
the Kaito.
4
On each frequency, you should try more than one antenna. This concerns dynamic range.
Dynamic range costs money. By trying out several antennae on each frequency, you get true
reception and you do not have to pay for dynamic range. David concludes by saying you should
find the Kaito less expensive than the Tecsun.
To have been a broadcast journalist and have a short wave transmitting facility named after you,
is some going! DAVID ANSELL from Horsham sends a copy of a fascinating article. The
Greenville (USA) Edward R Murrow shortwave broadcast facility supports the mission of the
Broadcast Board of Governors to inform, engage and connect people around the world in
support of freedom and democracy through approximately 2200 hours of transmissions each
month. Most of these transmissions are provided in Spanish for Radio Marti, the radio broadcast
arm of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. The station also supports the Voice of America mission
with Creole, English and Spanish transmissions to Latin America, and English and Portuguese to
Africa.
The Greenville Transmitting Station was formally dedicated by President John F Kennedy on
8 February 1963, and re-dedicated as the Edward R Murrow Transmitting Station in October
1968 in honour of the renowned wartime broadcaster and director of the USIA. The broadcasting
complex in Greenville was originally designed with three facilities triangulated around the city of
Greenville, consisting of two identical and independent transmitter sites referred to as Site A and
Site B, and a programme distribution and receiver facility designated as Site C. The Site C
facility was closed in 1995. The A Site transmitter was decommissioned in 2006.
The station is equipped with eight high power shortwave transmitters. Five of the eight are
rated for operation at 500 kW, and three are rated for operation at 250 kW. However, all eight
transmitters are operated at 250 kW in order to reduce the stations operating budget. The
station is also equipped with approximately 40 broadcast antennas. The antennas are placed in
an arc around the main building area to provide coverage between approximately 03 and 305
with respect to true north. The variety of antenna structures provides the station maximum
flexibility for reconfiguring mission requirements and target areas.
From a worldwide high power site, to a very low
power installation covering only a few square miles
the photograph shows what will be the studios of
Quay FM, Alderney. Not only do they need a few
cans of paint, but the boarded up windows need
some attention and the inside . . . dont ask!
The current issue of the Alderney Press has
two articles about Quay FM, the first of which is the
announcement of the public training programme.
The second article provides an interesting
insight into the connection between West Africa
and a small Channel Island. Quay FM has an
associate radio station in Sierra Leone, Capital
Radio SL, covering about 70% of the country. The association came about in 2006 when the
station was put on the air by two consultants who were Quay FM staff members. Liking the style
and format of Quay FM the new Capital Radio sought permission to make use of the Quay FM
computer database to build their own. Now each station acts as a back up to the other.
Several years ago, the Quay FM computer failed largely wiping out the database. However,
thanks to an immediate emergency feed
from Capital Radio, the Quay FM database
was restored and Alderneys own radio
station was back on air within hours.
Quay FMs Colin Mason returned from
a regular visit to West Africa last week and says that Capital Radio is heavily involved in
broadcasting daily reports on the Ebola situation.
5
th
left to right: Alan Pennington, Mike Barraclough, Mike Terry, Klaus Werner, Tony Rogers, Gareth Foster,
Michael Blake, Darren Rozier, Simon Guettier, Chris Greenway, David Morris, Alistair Blackett,
Gordon Pilling, Alan Roe, Dave Kenny, Mark Savage and Ian Kelly.
The twenty or so folk who popped along to the centuries-old Barmy Arms between start of
transmission at 3 in the afternoon and closedown about 10.30 pm mostly make an appearance
in the group photo above - another Twickenham meeting tradition - with the waters of Old
Father Thames and the famous Eel Pie Island as a scenic backdrop.
As ever the conversation seemed to flow as freely as the Thames. Topics this year included one
started by Chris Greenway, when he gave some statistics as to the continuing decline in shortwave listening even in areas of Africa where it was once the norm. Darren added his own
experiences to the conversation, following another of his regular trips with his church to
Uganda. The apparent decline in SWLs was put down to the increasing practice of domestic FM
re-broadcasting of international broadcasters, notably BBC World Service, and the phenomenal
growth of mobile media, even in the most challenging of RF territory. Many agreed that
increasingly, DXing is becoming more of a heritage hobby- but this was no wake.
Enthusiasm for first catching, and then listening to the unusual or the hard to hear remains as
strong as ever. And those present ranged in age from their 30s to their eighties. Gordon
Pillings attendance along with his wife Marlene at the meeting came about through serendipity.
Amazed to see the couple featured on our local papers website the previous day (as theyd
won a Cathedral Express steam train trip), I couldnt resist driving over to nearby Cranford to
deliver an invite, and was so pleased when they turned up, much to the surprise of many.
Gordon and Marlene were renowned for their hospitality and gifts - many a radio station
favoured them with prizes which often used to be passed on to members at meetings
6
Apart from people, there was also a rare exarchive appearance by several early editions of
Communication at the meeting sadly not
including the elusive second issue. These aided
an outpouring, of course, of nostalgia- yet also
familiarity, as it was recognised that some of
those stations still around from 1974 even
occupy the same frequencies today.
You only turn forty once, and this proved to be a
perfect birthday party. Not just for the club but
for Ian Kelly too, a little older than 4-0 but who
just happened to be celebrating his own birthday
that very day. There was the obligatory Happy
Birthday sung and then not just one but two
birthday cakes, including one which Id
attempted to crown with a mock up of a typical
Communication cover. As it happens, the
typeface my computer chose to present
Communication in proved to be the same one
used in the clubs earlier days!
Sadly, some of our regulars with family commitments could not make it this year during the
school holidays - though Andy Guy did send text greetings to the meeting by text from a Dover
ferry terminal while en route to Italy! On the other hand, it was great to have Tony Rogers with
us this year. Tony was Communications editor for many years, and still provides us with
excellently researched guides and articles for both magazine and website.
A superb meal was enjoyed at the Delhi Durbar where the conversation turned to some of the
great personalities of radio, men such as Tommy Vance, and to BFBS we were particularly
pleased that BDXC member and BFBS DJ Simon Guettier was able to join us this year - and
also to Radio Jackie, another creation of the seventies in this part of the Thames Valley.
To cap a perfect day, those not dashing off for trains had one final pint at The Barmy Arms, and
even got a free firework display from somewhere over Eel Pie Island. A balmy finish to a hobby
which is still far from barmy, and which as this meeting showed, cements some terrific
friendships. Thank you to everybody who came, and heres to 2015! (Mark Savage)
7
Back on the right side of the law, I remember building a Codar Multiband
6 SW receiver with a school friend, a kit ordered from PW. It took us most
of one Saturday on his dining room table, but worked fine when
finished. Radio Constructor magazine (sadly missed!) had Dick and
Smithys workshop adventures, which were always educational and
humorous and Frank Baldwins monthly DX loggings column gave me some
good tips on what to listen out for. He always seemed to log some fantastic
stations, especially the Latin American ones. The annual Wireless World
Guides to Radio Stations book was one of my first listening reference
books, wish Id kept a few copies now. Then SW transmitter powers were
so much lower then, not many 500kW entries.
Of course we had no internet or computers (as we now know them) back then. My only source of
info on new stations was the WRTH. I found the maritime beacons quite addictive and a quick
tune around 280-310kHz often ended up lasting into the small hours, just to try and hear all the
beacons in a particular group. My reference here was Reeds Nautical Almanac, again I wish Id
kept a copy now most of the maritime beacons are history.
Obviously, the background noise on all bands was far lower than today, just the odd fluorescent
lamp causing occasional buzzes. It was easy to spot a new MW ILR or BBC station starting
up and a test tone on a previously unoccupied frequency was soon investigated. My log
records test transmissions from Radio Trent, Nottingham on 998kHz, Radio Tees 1169kHz and
Pennine Radio, Bradford 1277kHz, all in June 1975. Radio Victory, Portsmouth and Radio
Orwell, Ipswich, now both long-lost stations seem to crop up in the log in the late-seventies.
Even though I had to be up for school the next morning, I remember Dads Army being a
regular show on BBC World Service in the 70s on 1088kHz at 0230GMT. I think it was from the
Crowborough transmitter, and reception was fine where we lived after dark. Around the same
time, another evening comedy show I seemed to start listening to regularly was The Life of
Riley on AFN, Germany on 872kHz. The show started with the line The Life Of Riley starring
William Bendix as Riley (I think). This same large transistor portable that I was using at the
time was good on the SW bands, but did suffer from
images. A tuned circuit between the aerial and the set
helped a lot with this problem though. The 60 metre
band was alive with LA stations back then, Radio Lara
4800kHz, Ecos Del Torbes 4980kHz, Radio Rumbos
4970kHz, all from Venezuela, seemed to feature in the
log regularly. Radio Santa Fe 4965kHz and Radio Colosal 4945kHz, both Colombians, were
heard frequently, the latter station even read out my reception report. Luckily I was lying in
bed that particular morning with the headphones on listening to them before getting up for
school. My log records: 4/9/73 4945kHz Radio Colosal, Neiva, Colombia. Read out my letter at
approx. 0610 GMT along with others received from Sweden and Germany. They played us all a
Pink Floyd track and later I received a letter (all in Spanish) and a pennant. Both are still stored
in the loft somewhere.
Radio Comercial from Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic on 4880kHz was a
good signal back in the 70s and I
usually listened to their lively music
before
going
to
school in
the
morning. But I think the 70s for me
were dominated by the offshore
stations. Radios Atlantis, Veronica, Caroline, Mi Amigo and of course RNI. Never a dull
moment on MW with these stations going on and off the air, changing frequency, masts
9
collapsing etc. A brief late-1972 entry in my log states Scheveningen Radio on 2182kHz gave
out a navigational warning around 2300GMT that the radio ship Mi Amigo had anchored 52
degrees 12 mins N, 4 degrees 16 mins E and was showing no lights. Described as a hazard to
shipping. All exciting stuff to a 14 year old!
Somewhere I have a tape of a Christmas Day 1973 test broadcast from the Mi Amigo
on 1187kHz with, I think, Andy Archer presenting. It was during the morning so reception was
clear. During the evenings 1187kHz deteriorated badly and I recall many an occasion trying to
listen to Radio Seagull only to give up. One of the 70s offshore stations, I cant be sure now if it
was RNI or Veronica, on signing off in the small hours used to have a minute or two of dead-air
then suddenly announce Dont forget to turn your radio off, youre wasting the batteries.
I missed the drama of the firebomb on the Mebo II, due to being away overnight on a school
trip to Wembley. Another entry in my log dated 14/8/75 records a station received on 593kHz
repeatedly announcing as BBC test transmissions from north London. A week later on 20/8/75,
another announcement on 593kHz said they were BBC test transmissions from south London.
No difference in strength as received on a Bush TR116 portable in Hull. I never did find out what
the tests were, and I didnt hear them again, but possibly they were connected to the proposed
Carfax traffic information service?
Andrew Tett writes: What 1970s memories do I choose?
Shortwave bands so crammed and signals so strong that they would
overload my portable radio when I connected the random-wire
antenna to the telescopic. In those days I longed for the future when
the bands might not be so crowded. Now, of course, I long for the
days when they were! For this sort of reason, and the fact that cost
was always a consideration, the cheaper and much better option
was to use a jumble sale valve radio.
Picking up Band I television sound (41.5MHz) from the superpowered (200kW vision and 50kW sound) Crystal Palace transmitter
occasionally on cheap transistor equipment. Touching the audio
input would often give this effect. Radio stations closing down
overnight so the MW band was relatively clear for DXing North
America. The stations would also open up in the morning with
interval signals and theme tunes.
A relatively clear FM band, much more opportunity for the DX to get in. I had quite a few valve
radios over the DXing years of the mid-seventies. I used to pick them up at jumble sales and run
them for a while, until another one came along which was better or something went wrong. My
favourites were always Philips ones - in particular the models based on the 341A chassis. The
one that I remember most was a 522A, which had a built-in gramophone player at one stage but
which I would never use because I had a much better Garrard SP25 Mk IV deck which was
much better.
Norbert Scheel's memories of 1970s DXing are dominated by the offshore shortwave stations.
Radio North Sea International from the radio ship Mebo II with his favourite programme AJ
Beirens' North Sea Goes DX on Sunday mornings from 1971 to 1974. Although Norbert had
been aware of 1960s pirate stations he had no information on where the transmissions came
from and they passed him by. From 1970 his interest was triggered, with good reception in
Germany during daylight hours. Norbert was also interested in the rest of what shortwave
broadcasting bands had to offer, but with the exception of the eastern bloc stations. He recalls
how the 1970s provided much for the DXer, with programmes such as Sweden Calling DXers, a
monthly programme Studio Monica/Frankfurt/Main aired by the German service of Radio
10
Portugal and the weekly German language DX programme on 6155kHz Radio Austria
International. Even two stations local to him in Berlin had DX programmes: SFB - Sender Freies
Berlin's Our Shortwave Stroll (somewhat surprising for a station that didn't broadcast on
shortwave!) and RIAS Berlin on 6005kHz Radio International with Armin Amler.
Norbert mentions the excellent propagation in the European winter of 1975-76 on 60 metres
which was good for South American stations. On the downside, less enjoyable aspects of the era
for him included Morse code transmitters around 48 metres above 6200kHz which interfered with
his pirate radio listening. The jamming of signals from Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty BBC
and Deutsche Welle aimed to eastern Europe is another unpleasant memory. Collecting QSL
cards was something that was enjoyed differently 40 years ago, when Norbert would contact free
radio operators with off air recordings and reception reports, something he feels unable to do
now as he does not use the internet. Norbert concludes by asking if we could reproduce an early
issue of Communication and sends his congratulations for the BDXC 40th anniversary.
Alan Roe writes: It is a coincidence that the BDXC Anniversary Year of 1974 was also the year
that I first really became aware of the existence of shortwave radio. For years before, I had
always had a small transistor radio, and remember well listening to Radio Caroline and Radio
London in the mid 1960's, and also making a point of listening to the launch of Radio 1. I also
seem to remember being quite interested in seeing a radio ship offshore whilst on holiday in
Walton-on-the-Naze. I also recall listening to Radio Luxembourg in the evenings. However, I
don't recall the implementation of the Marine, etc, Broadcasting (Offences) Act in 1967 making
any impression on me at the time, and my interest in radio, although present, was fairly low.
This changed in 1974. It all started earlier in the year when late one evening I was listening to
Capital Radio on MW, and was a little bored by the output. So I started turning the dial, and after
a while came across a programme in English from Sweden. It was Sweden Calling DXers, and
as I listened I realised that the presenter (I guess that it must have been George Wood) was
giving tips about radio stations broadcasting on shortwave. A couple of weeks or so later, I
spotted an advertisement in (I think) a Sunday newspaper for a cheap Russian-made 11-band
radio (or some such number of bands) including medium and long wave, air band, marine band
and several shortwave bands (where it promised that I could tune into stations from around the
world - such as Timbuktu, or live baseball from the US or cricket from India, and such like).
My birthday was coming up, so that what was I asked
for my birthday present. I got the radio a couple of
days before my birthday, and spent an hour on
Saturday afternoon tuning around - and heard
absolutely nothing, just noise and static. I was
somewhat discouraged, but never-the-less I tried again
that evening, and found a number of stations in various
languages and then eventually (if I remember correctly)
Radio Moscow with some rather dry content. Some
more tuning brought me to the Two Bobs on Swiss
Shortwave Merry Go Round, which was much more interesting. Sunday morning, I tried again and came across Tom Meijer with The Happy Station Show. By now I was hooked
into shortwave and have never looked back - joining World DX Club in around 1977 and British
DX Club (as it had by then become) a year or so later. (Un)surprisingly, I'm still waiting to hear
broadcasts from Timbuktu and live baseball from the US via shortwave!
My congratulations and thanks to the founder members who first conceived the Twickenham DX
Club and are still here working hard to produce a first rate bulletin every month, and of course to
the other editors and everyone involved in the running of the club.
11
12
It also included the news that a DXer in the Soviet Union was in trouble with the authorities after
his name was read out on the Sweden Calling DXers programme. QSL Waiting Times including
a wait of 46 days for a QSL from Radio Station Peace & Progress in the Soviet Union. Also
included were Propagation Report, Spotlight on a Radio Station (on Radio Australia) and
Propaganda on the Shortwaves a Sad Reality, an article by David Balhatchet.
A list of new members in this first edition showed the club had just five members. Editor David
Kenny requested contributions to: 37A, Popes Grove, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham TW1 4JZ (in
fact a home-made post box affixed to the wall of Nick Van Stigts parents house at Number 37).
We must pause however with a note of sadness in these recollections to note that Nicks mother,
who helped print the first copies of Communication passed away in July this year. And we also
learned that club co-founder David Balhatchet, who left the club after only a couple of years, died
in December last year in Penzance. Our sincere condolences go out to Nick and Davids families.
But how did such a small club grow into a national and international DX Club, especially during
those early years? In 1974 of course there was no internet or email to spread the word so letters
announcing the clubs arrival had been posted out to many of the English language DX
programmes then being aired on shortwave stations around the world. These included Short
Wave Panorama on Austria Calling from Vienna, DX Jukebox on Radio Nederland from
Hilversum and Just Ask & RNB will Answer on Radio Nacional de Brasilia. And nearer to home
the new club was pleased to receive a mention on new ILR Swansea Sound (257 metres) who
had a regular late evening DX spot at 2315 on Thursdays, presented by Alan Thompson (who
also had a DX programme on Deutchlandfunk). As a result, membership numbers gradually
started to climb. Below is the first mention of the club on the popular DX programme Sweden
Calling DXers on Tuesday 13th September 1974 presented by Arne Skoog. Some of you may
remember Radio Sweden sent out the scripts of the show to contributors to the programme:
And a few months later, on 18th February 1975, another mention on Radio Swedens DX show:
The results of a survey of club members in April 1975, showed that the Radio Sweden plugs
had been the most successful in recruiting new members. Some stations had refused to
announce details of the new club. Arthur Cushen said his DX World programme on Radio New
13
Zealand International could not contain any advertising material, as it also went out on the
NZBCs domestic National network. And the BBCs World Radio Club wrote back and said they
hadnt mentioned TDC as they had many requests from clubs all over the world, so said no to
everyone. But, they added, they did make exceptions, if a studio guest belonged to a particular
club for example. So it was that on the 29th July 1975, Dave Kenny and Nick Van Stigt arrived at
Bush House in London for the recording of World Radio Club as perhaps the programmes
youngest ever guests? And the Twickenham DX Club did receive some publicity on the BBC
World Service after all, courtesy of being interviewed by Reg Kennedy. Sadly, no recordings of
this edition of World Radio Club were kept.
Edition Number 2 (October 1974) of Communication is unfortunately missing from the clubs
archives, but in the Tenth Anniversary issue (September 1984) editor Chris Greenway did
mention this issue: Two more DXers had joined by the time Edition No.2 was published and they
were able to read that as Radio Veronica had been forced to close down because of the passage
of the Dutch Marine Offences Act, Capital Radio was now audible over most of the country on
557 kHz from its temporary transmitter site in Chelsea.
Edition Number 3 of Communication (November 1974) had grown in size to six sides which
prompted the editor to comment Phew! What a bumper edition! It listed the clubs first European
member (in Sweden), plus three new members in Japan. News included Harry Van Gelder
retiring from presenting Radio Nederlands DX Jukebox with Dick Speekman replacing him. Also
Capital Radio and LBC (London) would soon move to new MW frequencies 194 and 261
metres and Radio Hallam (Sheffield) was already on 194 metres and had already been heard in
Twickenham and a QSL received. Spotlight on a Radio Station featured Radio Afghanistan which
could be heard at 1130 GMT on 15195 kHz. In an article on Jamming on the Shortwaves, Dave
Kenny suggested tuning around the 16 metre band in the evening. Every other station is a
jammer and concluded Jamming is a great nuisance to DXers. This issue listed a club Board:
Nick Van Stigt (Treasurer), Dave Kenny (Editor), David Balhatchet (Secretary) and new recruit
Mark Lee (Deputy Editor) all in Twickenham.
Forty years ago in 1974, what receivers were DXers using? Early editions of Communication did
not list this information although Issue number 3
included a Wanted advert for an RF Preselector
preferably valve for use with a rather imageridden Codar CR70A set! It wasnt until the
August 1975 issue that Padriac Cawley in Ireland
suggested members contributing tips should list
their equipment. Reading through subsequent
issues, receivers such as the AR88, Eddystone
840C, Eddystone EC10, Ekco U143, Trio
9R59DS, Hammerlund, Yaesu FR-101, the new
Grundig Satellit 2000 and Philips domestic
receivers are mentioned. Digital readout would
have been an unaffordable luxury for most DXers
in 1974, although sets such as the Barlow
Wadley XCR-30 afforded good frequency stability
and accurate analogue dial readout through its
Wadley Loop, later used in the Yaesu FRG-7.
Above: Club founder Dave Kenny with Sony 5900W
in Sweden (1981) The radio is still in regular use!.
Communication, during its first year, had settled into regular monthly sections: DX News,
Members loggings (shortwave and mediumwave, but arranged in time order), a QSL section,
Mailbox, a Propagation Report based upon reception in Twickenham and Spotlight on a radio
station. Already after one year with membership approaching fifty the workload on the editors in
14
Twickenham was proving too much so an appeal was made for members in the UK to volunteer
to compile the DX News, Loggings and QSL sections. The first section editor outside of
Twickenham was the late Dr Donald McKinley, in Worthing, who edited the DX News section
from November 1975 until August 1979.
Two years after the club launched as the Twickenham DX Club,
membership numbers passed the 100 mark in October 1976. The
increasing and widening geographical spread of membership led
to the decision to finally change the clubs name to The British
DX Club (or BDXC-UK for short) from March 1979. (The current
club logo right, designed by Andrew Tett, was chosen from a
number submitted by members in 1985 and appeared for the first
time on the cover of the January 1986 issue of Communication).
Of those first 200 members, the following are still members today:
BDXC 1
BDXC 3
BDXC 20
BDXC 28
BDXC 48
BDXC 49
Dave Kenny
Nick Van Stigt
Russell Holmes
Jim Parker
Ken Fletcher
Mike Barraclough
BDXC 57
BDXC 62
BDXC 67
BDXC 68
BDXC 81
BDXC 90
Mike Terry
David Reynolds
Edwin Southwell
Mark Savage
David Ansell
Stefano Valianti
BDXC 111
BDXC 124
BDXC 128
BDXC 146
BDXC 186
BDXC 197
David Morris
Mark Fisher
Tony Rogers
Chris Gibbs
Chris Greenway
Alan Pennington
Dave Kenny
Mark Lee
Dave Kenny
Chris Greenway
Tony Rogers
Phil Hodgson
Tony Rogers
Chrissy Brand
Printer
Sept 1974-Jul 1976
Mrs Judith Van Stigt
Aug 1976-Oct 1978
Dave Kenny
Nov 1978-Jul 1980
Paul Cox
Aug 1980-Apr 1982
Colin Wright
May 1982-Mar 1984 John Chivers
May 1984-Jun 1985 Stephen Buckley
Aug 1985-present:
printed externally by Presto Print
(in Oxford & Reading); Grosvenor Print (in Caversham)
and currently by Hertfordshire Display (Ware).
15
Club Treasurer
Nov 1974-Aug 1978
Sep 1978-Aug 1979
Sep 1979-Nov 1987
Dec 1987-present
Club Secretary
Nov 1974-Jul 1976
Aug 1976-May 1985
Aug 1985-Jan 2006
Feb 2006-present
David Balhatchet
Dr Donald McKinley
Colin Wright
Andrew Tett
Printing of Communication: Up until August 1985, it was printed using a Gestetner duplicator in
the club printers home, with section editors typing onto stencils. Very occasionally a photocopied
sheet was added to include pictures, but for the most part it was 100% typed text. The magazine
was all collated and stapled by hand. In August 1985 we switched to external printing
(photocopying) and then section editors typed onto A4 paper, mainly still using type writers or
early Word Processors (e.g. Amstrad). Pictures were added by pasting in photocopies.
Magazines were still posted out from Caversham until we switched to our current printers,
Hertfordshire Display, in March 2000. A pdf of Communication is now emailed to Ware (in
Hertfordshire) where the
magazine is digitally
photocopied. Nowadays
editors
can
insert
scanned photos and
images
into
their
sections. The magazine
is now also despatched
from Ware by our
printers, so the quick
turn around the club has
always prided itself on is
maintained. The days of
messy inky stencils and
walking around a table
collating each copy now
seem medieval looking
back (the Gestetner was
recycled at the local tip,
though
maybe
the
museum would have
been more appropriate!).
Above: BDXC Board (l-r) Nick Van Stigt, Donald McKinley, Colin Wright
Alan Pennington, Dave Kenny and Andrew Tett (Catford, 1981)
Logbooks of what our members have heard have been a regular mainstay of Communication
every month since the first edition. Shortwave logs have been arranged in a variety of orders
over the years time order, split by continent and (as now) frequency order. Before the days of
computers, editors would cut members handwritten contribution sheets into strips to arrange in
order for typing! The growth in the number of logs each month meant separate log sections were
set up through the years. Beyond the Horizon first appeared under the editorship off Andrew Tett
in 1980 and included VHF/TV logs - MW logs were moved into this section in 1985. Ten years
later in 1990, a separate MW Logbook appeared. And in June 1985, shortwave logs below 5900
kHz were given their own Tropical Bands Logbook. The logbooks have had many editors over
the years but long-service awards are due for:
HF Logbook: Stephen Howie 17 years (1997-to date), Steven Rowe 8 years (1986-1994), Tony
Rogers 5 years (1981-1986);
Tropical Logbook: Alan Pennington 13 years (2001-to date), Kevin ODaly 6 years (1992-1998);
MW Logbook: Jeff Weston 15 years (1990-2005), Tony Rogers 8 years (2005-2013);
Beyond the Horizon: Colin Ferris 7 years (1990-1997), Chrissy Brand 9 years (2005-to date).
16
17
Mailbox / Open to Discussion has been a lively forum of discussion for members right from the
beginning. Looking through the archive it was difficult not to stop and read through the hotly
debated topics of the time, especially in the 1970s when all correspondence came courtesy of
Royal Mail (strikes permitting)! Topics such as pirate radio, layout of Logbook and the EDXC
were refereed, usually by the editor of Communication, who also took on the role of Mailbox
editor in the early days. But from October 1991, a dedicated editor has been in charge of BDXCs
post bag - David Morris. And hes still in charge today, nearly 23 years later! In August 1997 a
new name and masthead were adopted for the letters column Open to Discussion the name
has stuck, but not the
masthead (left). Most
letters now arrive by email,
which must be a slight
disappointment to keen
philatelist David!
A Propagation Report appeared regularly in Communication right from Issue 1 in 1974. It was
based on Dave Kennys observations on reception in the previous month. From March 1977 until
May 1981, a regular report produced by both Ken Fletcher and Dave appeared every month,
which was carried on by Chris Greenway when he was General Editor until the mid-1980s.
Propagation news was revived by postings from Mike Terry and Ken Fletcher around 2006 and a
regular report has appeared most months, compiled by James Welsh, since February 2007.
Pirate Radio At first the club was reluctant to publish details of any pirate radio stations. In the
April 1975 edition of Communication, the editor wrote: It will not be possible to list pop pirates
because of certain laws in most countries. But a log of London FM pirate Radio Invicta had
already slipped through in the February 1975 edition. Those for and against listing pirates in the
magazine put their cases in Mailbox. But by March 1979 a separate section devoted to Free
Radio News started to appear each month, edited at first by Bob Burwell. This was soon
renamed Alternative Airwaves, and was edited briefly by Mark Ward, then Shaun Geraghty, then
Gavin Robertson in the years 1980-82. In January 1983 Alan Pennington took on the section and
edited Alternative Airwaves for a very long 19 year period, until February 2001, covering both
land-based and offshore radio news. Initially just a pirate news section, it later adopted a logbook
style
format.
In
September 1988, the
club had a stall at the
Communicate
88
event in Blackpool.
left: Dave Kenny and
John Fraser at our stall
at Communicate 88.
longer had to be UK-based, and from February 2006 to date, Axel Roese in Germany took over
AAW, with assistance from Barry Henshall and more recently Vick Haviland.
A dedicated programme section called Listening On with Sheila Hughes appeared between May
1989 and June 1991. From May 2008 Darren Rozier wrote Listening In which looked at a
different station each month and, since January 2013, Alan Roe has written a regular programme
column called Listening Post and also a music on shortwave section in Broadcasts in English.
Southern European Report has been a regular column in Communication since March 1995, so
over 19 years! Compiled by our long-standing member Stefano Valianti (BDXC 90) in Italy, it
gave a new perspective on radio news from further south in Europe. Stefano was our first editor
outside the British Isles until Roger Bixley (in Germany) took on QSL Report in 1998.
Ether to Speaker (subtitled a review of listening hardware) first appeared in March 1997,
penned by Adrian Moxon, who had contributed receiver reviews before then. Of course reviews
of receivers had appeared before in the pages of Communication, though this was the first
column devoted to the topic. Andrew Tett has since taken on the task of flagging up new receiver
and technical developments under the Ether to Speaker heading when topics arise.
Meetings & social activity Ken Fletcher, who held the post of Social Secretary for several
years in the 70s, must take credit for encouraging social activity in the club in the early days and
for challenging DX hermits to attend meetings! Originally TDC held a biennial meeting either in
someone's house, in a church hall or a pub room in Twickenham. Then, in the early 80s, wellattended AGMs took place in London at Baden Powell House. After a break of a few years our
now-familiar annual summer meetings in Twickenham organised by Mark Savage were resumed.
From 1975 TDXC started participating in inter club meetings, by far the longest-lasting of these
has been the Reading meetings which continue to this day. Meetings have also been organised
by members of various clubs at various locations around the country over the years including
Birkenhead/Wallasey, Birmingham, Bradford, Bournemouth, Catford, Cambridge, Cardiff,
Cranford, Derby, Glasgow, Leicester, Hove/Shoreham, Manchester, Reading and Worthing.
Above: Reading meeting, summer of 1997 standing Dave Kenny & Alan Pennington (Big L T Shirt);
seated (l-r) Ian Kelly, Derek Knight, Mike Barraclough, Edwin Southwell, Dario Monferini (Play-DX, Italy),
Clive Rooms and Chris Gibbs. (Pipers Island, Caversham)
19
As well as meetings there have been a few outings organised for members. The first of these
was a trip to Jodrell Bank in Cheshire in the 70s. Since then outings to Bletchley Park in
Buckinghamshire; the Rampisham transmitter site in Dorset, World Radio Network HQ in London
and the Aspidistra transmitter site in Ashdown Forest near Crowborough have taken place. In
1999 we even had a boat trip to an offshore RSL broadcast in Essex. Sadly, a planned members
visit to Woofferton last year was cancelled by Babcock on health & safety grounds!
The club has taken part in a number of exhibitions over the years, notably the Communicate 88
Anoraks UK convention in Blackpool in 1988; at the EDXC Road Show in Birmingham in 1987; at
the Lee Valley amateur radio rallies in London and the National Vintage Communications Fair
near Leamington.
The European DX Council is an umbrella organisation for DX clubs across
Europe and, apart from a short gap in the 1980s, the club has been a member, or
observer member (on cost grounds), of EDXC since 1976. Ken Fletcher, as our
first EDXC Rep, attended and reported on a number of conferences. Several
BDXC members also attended the 1984 EDXC conference in Stockholm (hosted
by Radio Sweden) as well as the 1983 conference in London (hosted by the BBC
World Service) and in recent years BDXC has been represented at many of the EDXC
conferences around Europe, including the one this month in France.
World Radio TV Handbook The club was first listed in the 1977 edition of the World Radio TV
Handbook (WRTH). TDXC also started offering members a discount on the annual World Radio
TV Handbook in 1977, initially the offer was arranged through the World DX Club but
subsequently we organised sales directly. A discount for members with the distributors of
Passport to World Band Radio was arranged more recently, though sadly PWBR ceased
publication in 2009. Communication has been sent to the WRTH editors for many years and we
are now credited by WRTH as a contributing organisation, as well as overseeing the annual
WRTH prize draws.
Tape Circle / Audio Circle In the October 1975 Communication, new member Ken Fletcher
wrote in TDC Mailbox that he was interested in starting up a tape circle within the club. This
idea came to fruition in February 1976 when the first edition of TDXC Tape Circle was circulated,
including interviews with EDXC Secretary General Rudolf Heim and Radio Swedens DX Editor
Arne Skoog along with information from Ken
Fletcher in Birkenhead and Derek Bell in Derby.
Ken and Derek took it in turns to edit and circulate
the programmes until September 1976 when Mark
Savage (pictured, right) took over from Ken.
Derek continued to contribute and edit from his
QTH in Chaddesden, Derby, until he too 'retired'.
Another DXer involved around this time was Terry
James in Newport, South Wales, who edited
several programmes. In a remarkable coincidence, Terry lived less than a quarter of a mile
from Damien Read, one of a later, younger pair of
editors with a unique style. His partner at the
microphone was Andy Guy, but neither of them
knew Terry.
The Tape Circle became an established extra
service for club members under editors Ken
Fletcher, Mark Savage, Andrew Tett and Chrissy Brand plus a host of rotating monthly
presenters. Sadly, the very first edition of TC was not archived for posterity, as far as we know.
However, Mark has a copy of his first programme. Many other editions from across the past
20
decades have been kept (though not all), and are gradually being digitised thanks largely to
Andrew Tett. In 2009 the Tape Circle was renamed Audio Circle to reflect the fact most members
no longer listen on cassette but via CD or MP3 download. It is now produced bi-monthly and the
MP3 download is available free to BDXC members.
The computer age The clubs first website was created in January 1996 by Nigel Watkinson,
hosted at UMIST in Manchester. In March 2000, the domain www.bdxc.org.uk was acquired. We
now also own the bdxc.co.uk and bdxc.uk domains. The
website is now home to a host of articles and resources,
both
articles
which
previously
appeared
in
Communication (such as Sheigra DXpedition reports)
plus regularly updated pages, many written by Tony
Rogers, such as Africa on Shortwave, External Services
on Medium wave, South Asia on Shortwave, DX
Programme Guide and Guide to Radio Museums .
In June 1998 a new column, Surfing the World Wide
Web first appeared in Communication, which is still a
monthly feature sixteen years later, now renamed
Webwatch, but still edited by the clubs General Editor,
Chrissy Brand (photo left)
.
Forty years ago the General Editor used to receive and post out a lot of contributions to section
editors around each monthly deadline now most are sent in via email.
In February 2002 the bdxc-news service was transferred to Yahoo! Groups enabling members to
receive and post items of hot DX news. A separate Yahoo! Group, bdxc-tc (Total Chat) was
added in 2007, enabling members to comment on news items or discuss other radio matters.
Since January 2013, new or renewing members can opt to receive a pdf by email (instead of a
printed copy) of each months Communication to read on their tablets, phones or computers.
Membership numbers were thought to have peaked around 2002, when they were in excess of
520, though this is an estimate based on the number of copies of Communication being printed.
However, the influx of new members in January 2013, as a result of the transfer of members
from the World DX Club, following the closure of WDXC, pushed the total close to 550, including
both print and pdf subscribers. We have just issued membership number 2404, which in theory
means that number of individuals have belonged to the club over the past forty years as rejoining
members are given their old membership number whenever possible, if identified as such.
On Friday 15th July 1988, the radio section in the Independent newspaper in the UK published an
article titled A life on the short wave, written by Robert Hanks. The article included a chart of a
selection of shortwave stations, with their frequencies and times, plus a brief comment on what
you might hear on each station. An accompanying paragraph provided an introduction to
shortwave listening and gave the British DX Clubs address at the end. This produced a flood of
enquiries, which then Secretary Colin Wright replied to with an information sheet, answering the
most frequent questions, plus a sample copy of Communication. This generated quite an influx of
new members, and was probably the biggest single boost to membership before the transfer of
WDXC memberships in January last year.
Usually however, new members are recruited gradually throughout the year through publicity for
our publications, adverts in WRTH, mentions on DX Programmes or in magazines such as Radio
User, or appearances at events (as mentioned above). However we hope fellow BDXC members
will also promote the club themselves through word-of-mouth to fellow radio enthusiasts! A lot
has changed in our hobby over the past 40 years, but BDXC has evolved as well, thanks to our
club officers, editors and members. Well done on reaching this 40 year milestone, and we now
look forward to the clubs 50th anniversary in 2024!
(Alan Pennington)
21
diversity of content and style of presenting was quite a revolution compared with the somewhat
staid BBC. It was amazing to hear country music, jazz, R & B, gospel, rock and pop music all
coming from different stations.
South Africa in the early 1970s had tightly controlled state-run media but in neighbouring
Mozambique there was Lourenco Marques Radio which was a commercial pop music station a
bit like Radio Luxemburg. This station was usually referred to as LM Radio and was the first
commercial station in Africa. The station closed in 1975 when Mozambique became independent
of Portugal. There is a website http://www.lmradio.org/ commemorating this station. LM Radio
which was South African owned was relaunched as Radio 5 (later 5FM) in South Africa. I really
enjoyed listening to LM radio on the various occasions when my ship called into South African
ports as it meant I could listen to pop music all day and night.
On an ocean voyage you know when you are
approaching land as you begin to hear AM
radio stations long before you actually make a
land fall. One knew that the Indian coast was
not far away when Indian music started to
appear on the airwaves. Indian music seemed
to be widely played to the exclusion of western
music in India. However I recall listening to
western pop from FM stations in Sri Lanka.
Fortunately if local stations did not offer much
in the way of entertainment there was always
the BBC World Service. I also recall enjoying
shortwave broadcasts from Swiss Radio, Radio
Netherlands (The Happy Station) and my
favourite - Radio Sweden.
I think they
broadcast a lot of Swedish pop which was quite good but not played much outside of Sweden
this was long before Abba! After a few years the novelty of being at sea wore off and I left the
Merchant Navy to work ashore. My Grundig Satellit gave many years service although in the
end I used it mainly as an FM tuner which I plugged into my stereo system. Some 40 years later
I am still interested in radio and recall the very strong links with home that short wave radio gave
to me in those years sailing around the world.
23
Listening Post
with Alan Roe
listeningpost@bdxc.org.uk
Hello and welcome to Listening Post for September, and Happy Birthday to BDXC. Ill start this
month with a couple of programme recommendations from Glenn Hauser in DX Listening Digest.
WWCR, USA
WWCR 15825, August 2 at 1455, neat old tunes on `The Talking [sic] Machine Show` from
WWCR; frustratingly, Phil Patton gives the year the wax cylinder was made, 1916, but *not* the
name of the song nor the composer, nor performer! The next one is faded out at 1459 before
there can be another incomplete outro, let alone a program closing. Host is an engineer, not an
experienced announcer, yet this is the only WWCR show worth listening to on WWCR. They still
havent put up an August programme schedule, but the latest dated June 20 shows for TTMS:
Sat 1000 4840, Sat 1430 15825, Sat 2300 9350, Mon 0400 4840 (Glenn Hauser, via DX
Listening Digest)
WRMI, USA
Jeff White points out that there is now a schedule grid for all the `F` blocks [or System F
programming] which are attributed to Family Stations, coloured red on the graphic frequency
schedule. This schedule is not on the same page as the 9955 programming, but just below the
frequency schedule grid which I have tinyurled to: http://tinyurl.com/kjchgca or reached through
homepage http://www.wrmi.net --> programming --> transmission schedule. Note: if you have
downloaded previous frequency schedules, you may get an old one which still exists on the web
at different incredibly complex Google URLs.
From that, the DX programmes on WRMI frequencies other than 9955 [are as follows]:
Historias de Radio: Mon 0430-0500; Fri 0130-0200
Antena DX: Thu 0430-0500; Sat 0100-0130
Viva Miami: Fri 0430-0445; Mon/Wed/Fri 1015-1030;
Wed & Sat 2115-2130, Thu 0130-0145
Frecuencia al Da: Fri 0100-0130; Sat 0430-0500
Wavescan: Sat 1000-1030; Sun 0130-0200
La Rosa de Tokio: Mon 2100-2200; Tue 0100-0200
Media Network Plus: Tue 2100-2200
WORLD OF RADIO: Fri 2130-2200; Sun 0100-0130
Some other programmes of interest:
Blues Radio International: Tue 0430-0500; Thu 2130-2200; Sat 0130-0200
Trova Libre: Wed 0430-0500; Mon 0100-0130
Acontecer Venezolano: Thu 0145-0200; Fri 0445-0500
EU News: Tue & Thu 1015-1030; Wed 2100-2115; Sun 2115-2130
From Moscow With Love: Wed 2130-2200
RFI Musique: Wed 0100-0200, Thu 0100-0130
Frequencies for System F broadcasts:
0100-0200 5950, WRMI-13, 181 degrees
1000-1030 5850, WRMI-8, 355 degrees
2100-2200 7570, WRMI-11, 315 degrees
24
Block A
05-30 Sun:
Mo-Fr:
Sat:
30-55 Sun:
Mon:
Tue:
Wed:
Thu:
Fri:
Sat:
Block B
05-55 Mo-fr:
05-30 Sa-Su:
30-55 Sat:
30-55 Sun:
Block C
05-55 Daily:
Block D
05-55 Daily:
These 1-hour programming blocks are repeated throughout the day as follows:
0000:
0100:
0200:
0300:
A
B
A
B
0400:
0500:
0600:
0700:
A
B
A
B
0800:
0900:
1000:
1100:
A
B
A
B
1200:
1300:
1400:
1500:
A
C
D
B
1600:
1700:
1800:
1900:
C
D
A
B
2000:
2100:
2200:
2300:
C
D
A
B
The Sunday edition of The World According to Words is a repeat of the Saturday edition;
recently however these have all been repeats of programmes first aired in 2012 and 2013 and
Im not sure if there have been any new programmes produced for some months now. Global
Chinese Music is presented in English and Chinese and was introduced a few months ago
replacing the second weekly (Sunday) edition of Heartbeat. China Horizons was renamed
Horizons at around the same time.
25
I havent listened much to CRIs weekday programming for some time, concentrating mostly on
the weekend programmes. Horizons remains my favourite weekend programme. Ill try and
make time over the next couple of months to listen to more of their weekday programming and
review them later in the year.
Do you listen to any of CRIs programmes, whether that is in English or any of the other
language services? If so please let us know what you like (or dislike) about their programmes. I
would be very interested to hear from you!
Music on Shortwave
Rafael Martnez writes with a welcome contribution of music listening tips.
This is the Dmitri Savitski Jazz Time programme current schedule on Radio Liberty's Russian
service:
Saturday 1805-1900 on 5995 11760 9840
Sunday 0505-0600 on 9635 11850 17770
Sunday 1905-2000 on 5995 7455 9840
Medi 1 is a commercial station well heard in the Mediterranean countries on SW 9575 and LW
171, it offers a programming based on current affairs, news and culture programmes along with
a Western and Arabic pop music mix formula, including some specialised music programmes.
This is the correct schedule after monitoring of some of, from my point of view, most interesting
music programmes offered by this station:
Ritmo Latino, modern Latin dance music presented by Layla Belarbi (in French): Saturday
1503-1600.
Jazz Session, jazz classics presented by Jawad (in French): Sunday 2304-0000.
La Bossa Nova, Bossa Nova hits presented by Sanae (in French): scheduled Sunday 1815 but
not noted at that time; shows can be heard anyway at http://www.medi1.com/musique/bossa/
La Musique Soufie, Sufi music presented by Ahmed Lekhligh (in Arabic): daily 1930-1958
repeated at 0300-0328. This programme has become one of my favorites; Wikipedia says
"While all Muslims believe that they are on the pathway to God and hope to become close to
God in Paradise--after death and after the "Final Judgment"--Sufis also believe that it is possible
to draw closer to God and to more fully embrace the Divine Presence in this life. The chief aim of
all Sufis is to seek the pleasing of God by working to restore within themselves the primordial
state of fitra described in the Qur'an -- fitra is an Arabic word meaning "disposition",
"constitution", or "instinct". In a mystical context, it can connote intuition or insight (...)--, in this
state nothing one does defies God, and all is undertaken with the single motivation of love of
God". Some prominent Sufi musicians according to Wikipedia are Abida Parveen, Nusrat Fateh
Ali Khan and Sanam Marvi, all from Pakistan. La Musique Soufie is half hour of slow and
smooth music, ideal for relaxing after a workday.
For consulting the Medi 1 current programme schedule or listening to the newest or old shows
visit http://www.medi1.com
The Radio Havana Cuba Esperanto service aired on July 27 an interesting feature dedicated to
the Cuban musician Pedro Izquierdo, Pello el Afrokn, who in the early sixties created a new
rhythm named Mozambique; the show is available at: http://www.ameriko.org/eo/node/715
Wikipedia info about Mozambique at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambique_(music)
Many thanks to Glenn and Rafael. I would like to receive your comments on what youve been
listening to, so please drop me a line at listeningpost@bdxc.org.uk, or by post via the Editor
(address on front cover). Thats all for this month. Until next time: 73 Alan
26
The controls consist of main and band spread tuning dials, BFO on/off, AVC on/off, AC / audio
gain and pitch control (when using BFO). Also a send / receive switch and socket for phones. It
also has an internal speaker. Valve line up is: 6K8G, 6K7G, 6Q7G, 41, 76, 80. Operation is
straightforward, tuning is smooth and the band spread does help separate out adjacent signals;
it has a nice crisp audio on AM and has little frequency drift. However, it is pretty deaf across
most of the higher frequencies, but considering the age of the receiver thats not too surprising.
Sensitivity decreases quite rapidly above 15 MHz. However, using a MFJ 1045B pre selector
helps to reduce this problem. I have several World War II period communications receivers
which are of a more sophisticated design but this receiver (in my opinion) has the best visual
appeal. Nowadays the Sky Buddy would probably be regarded as an entry level receiver; it cost
$30 in 1939 which would have made it available to cost conscious hams & SWLs on both sides
of the pond. Note: This set is in the first run of the model. A later version replaced the send / rec
slide switch with a toggle one.
See a restored Sky Buddy from 1941-42 in action,
at The You Tube channel of
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLegoboy1997,
specifically at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK2w7Svka_8
See also a range of Hallicrafters' radios at
http://www.qsl.net/la5ki/s.htm where it is stated:
"The first Hallicrafters radio, the S-1 Skyrider, was
in 1932. The name "Hallicrafters" was a composite
of Bill Halligan's last name, and "handcrafted." The
S-Prefix continued for over three decades. The
most famous "S" prefixed radio, the S-38,
appeared in 1946 and continued for another for 15
years."
27
(photos AP / DK)
Webwatch
Edited by Chrissy Brand - editor@bdxc.org.uk
Back in 1974 the thought of the vast majority of households in the western world owning several
computers, from desktops to mobile phones, was hard to imagine; it was the stuff of BBC
Tomorrows World. Today the internet offers so much for DXers: nostalgia, current tips, audio
and video, and interaction with fellow radio-heads. However, this month Webwatch looks at
some websites which reflect shortwave and other radio in the 1970s.
But we start with BBCs Tomorrows World programme. Which technologies predicted from the
mid-1960s to the early 1990s actually came true? Look at the touchscreens invention in 1991
with Judith Hann at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK6iKfstF40 (this is at the channel of
https://www.youtube.com/user/ENGLISHvintageTV ); better still, go to the BBC pages at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/tomorrowsworld/index.shtml to see the office of the future from
1969, the mobile phone in 1970 and a review of the 1970s.
Thanks to Andrew Tett we have a BDXC Audio Circle Extra. Operation Aspidistra is a 1975 BBC
play in a series "The War in Secret An mp3 is at: https://app.box.com/s/4d4vxp0a5c48g1ky6of6
The only known surviving recordings of the Swiss Shortwave Merry Go Round from the 1960s &
1970s and the Two Bobs shows from the 1980s and 1990s are in mp3 format under The Two
Bobs section of http://www.switzerlandinsound.com. Maybe there are BDXC members who have
copies that Bob Zanotti doesnt know about? If you type Swiss Radio International into Youtube
you come up with quite a few off-air snippets. These include some at the Radio Programme
channel https://www.youtube.com/user/radprog which also includes a Sweden Calling DXers
show from 1980. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCaXi0EU9Qw
There is a page on Sweden Calling DXers at the Radio Sweden website:
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2408&artikel=4506968 George Wood retired
from Radio Sweden last month. Follow his current blog Notes from Sweden and Strasbourg at
http://radiowood.com/?author=1
Ian Chard has a website which includes scans of old
shortwave schedules, newsletters from the 1980s and 1990s. http://rainbow.chard.org/radio/
The DX Archive com website does what you would expect. Produced by a team dedicated to
preserving free radio information (landbased and offshore stations), it also includes vintage QSL
cards from official broadcast stations too: http://www.dxarchive.com/
Other sites I recommend, which delve into DXing include the BBC WS in the 1970s (includes
audio) at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/history/story/2007/02/070122_html_70s.shtml
Love Letter from London has a 2012 tour of Bush House:
http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/bush-house-and-beeb.html
Normal Stop covers Bush House ops since the 1950s: http://radiooperations.blogspot.co.uk/
while the Radio Sounds Familiar website includes tv adverts and other 1970s nostalgia
http://radiosoundsfamiliar.com/
The Shortwave Radio Listener's Guide - Fading from the Air and Going Online archives
shortwave radio history and link to BBC Radio to encourage listening online. It includes an audio
vault with Radio Netherlands Media Network shows: http://www.listenersguide.org.uk/
Garrison Keillors A Prairie Home Companion radio show started in 1974 and celebrated its 40th
anniversary with a three hour programme in July 2014. You can watch it (or hear audio only) at
the wonderful http://prairiehome.org/ (go to the archive section) and their YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/PrairieHomeVideos Im looking forward to seeing PHC being
recorded on 5 September in Paris: http://prairiehome.org/tickets/
Normal service will be resumed next monthP
29
Listening in Monaco Listening to local radio in the Principality of Monaco is to some extent
similar to shortwave listening, due to the variety of languages which are broadcast. Some
stations that I heard during a recent trip to Monaco and the Cte dAzur were:
90.6 Mdi 1, the Col de la Madone relay, in French and Arabic, also international pop music,
many IDs such as Mdi 1, Rabat 97.5 RDS MEDI 1
93.2 According to a tip in Play DX, I expected to find Qatar-based Radio Sout Al Khaleej FM
here, however only a relay of a French station was heard, with RDS indicating it was a test
transmission.
95.4 Radio Monaco, also on 98.2, which has become the local station of the Principality since
Radio Monte Carlo, now RMC or RMC Info, has lost every relationship with Monaco. (The
WRTH mentions a local RMC news bulletin Mon/Fri at 0650 on 98.8 MHz only, but I couldnt
check it).
95.7 Jazz Radio, all day jazz and funky, rotating RDS JAZZ RADIO MONACO JAZZ
AND SOUL
96.1 Radio FG, excellent signal from Mont Agel, ID Il est 9 heures sur Radio FG, news, mto,
DJ with pop and electro music - RDS RADIO FG
96.4 Radio Chine Internationale, in French, they also broadcast many French pop songs, RDS
R.C.I.
100.9 Music 100.9, transmitter in Sanremo, very good playlist, present day hits and oldies
(Petula Clarks Downtown was on the air when I first tuned in) RDS MUSIC
101.6 Monte Carlo 2, in Italian, all day lounge music, news at 1030, 1230, 1430, 1630 - RDS
MC 2
103.6 CHIK Radio, transmitters both in Italy and Monaco, in Russian, many IDs and electro
music, RDS CHIK
106 Plein Sud, a new station in French, transmitters are in Italy, heard with nonstop pop music
and IDs on the hour RDS PLEINSUD
106.3 The local Monaco transmitter of well-known Riviera Radio, which years ago was heard
also on mediumwave 702 kHz; ID is from Sanremo to Saint Tropez and all the way out to sea,
this is Riviera Radio 106.5, RDS shows RIVIERA 106.5 HELLO BIG HITS LESSTALK
On the AM bands, the
local frequencies are still
in their places on the dial,
218 with RMC, 702 with
RCI (in Chinese, French,
Italian), 1467 with Radio
Maria (in French, Arabic,
English) and 1557 with
France Info from Nice. I
hope to find them alive
and well next time I come
here!
Right: Studios of Radio
Plein Sud, a new French
station run by volunteers
http://radiopleinsud.emonsite.com/
30
But of course, none of the many stations heard here today can match the flavour of the old
Radio Monte Carlo, la radio du soleil on 1400 mtres ondes longues in 1974...
Radio Monte Carlo 40 years ago
The schedule of Radio Monte Carlo, 218 kHz, 1376 metres, for Monday, 30 December 1974:
0530 s/on with Jose Sacre, with news at 0530, 0600, 0615,
Journal at 0630, 0645; weather at 0650
0700 Frederic Gerard with Journal at 0700 and 0800, news and weather at 0730 and 0830
0900 Daniel Askain
1000 Jean-Pierre Foucault with Maurice Messgu
1200 Zappy Max presents Leave or double
1300 Liliane Rose
1500 Fifty years of songs, with Jean-Claude Laval
1600 Look for the disc
1700 Taxi
1800 Guy Vial with news at 1800 and 1830, weather at 1835
and Journal at 1845
1900 Hit-Parade with Julien Lepers
2230 Journal
2245 Les routiers sont sympa (programme for truck drivers also on Radio-Luxembourg 236 kHz)
2400 Christian Alexandre with Journal at midnight, at 0100 news and s/off with national anthem
Propagation Report
With James Welsh - mailto:propagation@bdxc.org.uk Links: www.jameswelsh.org.uk
Propagation Summary
During the second half of August, Solar activity was at very low levels. This period saw
predominately B-class flare activity with isolated C-class flare activity, especially late in the
period. The largest event of the period was a C2 flare at 0930 UTC on 16 August.
In addition to the C2 flare, two additional low-level C-class flares contributed three low-level Cclass flares this period. A Coronal Mass ejection also arrived at earth late on August 19.
The Solar flux was at normal levels on 12 Aug. With normal to moderate levels observed on 11,
13-17 Aug. Geomagnetic activity was quiet on 13-16 Aug, followed by quiet to unsettled levels
on 11 and 17th, and quiet to active conditions were observed on 12 august to a Coronal Hole
High speed Stream (CH HSS).
Propagation Forecast Up to 13 September.
Solar activity is expected to be low throughout the period with a slight chance for M-class flare
activity from 21 Aug - 06 September. The Solar flux at is expected to be at normal to moderate
levels throughout the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be quiet on 09-13
September. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected on 06-08 Sep due to CH HSS effects.
Solar Cycle Progress
Sunspot numbers have dropped so far during 2014,and a further downward trend is forecast for
2015. ( http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SolarCycle/ )
Current optimal frequency charts can be found at: http://hfradio.org/latest_chart.html and there
are more regional charts and maps at: http://www.hamqsl.com/solar3.html#hfprop
31
QSL Report
edited by Dario Gabrielli qsl@bdxc.org.uk
Dario Gabrielli, Viale della Resistenza 33b, IT- 30031 Dolo (Ve) Italy
Albania: China R International 13710 kHz. English programme. QSL card received in 32 days
for postal report. QSL is endorsed "via Albania". The card is from the "The Great family of the
Chinese nation" series, number 56-45 and features a young lady from the Jino ethnic minority
doing some weaving. (ARo)
Austria: Voice of Vietnam 9625 kHz. English programme. Two QSL cards for two separate
postal reports received in 47 days. First QSL features a fantastic Black and White photograph of
a H'Mong Lady. The second QSL features a colourful photograph of rolling terraced hills
captioned "Che Tao Commune, Vietnam".
(ARo)
Canada: CKDO, Oshawa ON 1580 kHz. eQSL email received in 1 day for report sent via
their online contact form at http://www.ckdo.ca/
Email from Music Director,Gary Bernarde. (AP)
China: China R International 17490kHz.
English programme. QSL card received in 32 days for postal report. QSL card is from the "The
Great family of the Chinese nation" series, number 56-46 and features a young lady from the
Jing ethnic minority. Also received a nice postcard in the same series, this as series number 5648 and features another young lady, this time from the Mulao ethnic minority group. CRI also
sent a copy of their quarterly magazine and a very nice set of paper cuts. (ARo)
Cuba: Radio Havana Cuba 5040 kHz. Two QSL cards received in post in 130 days in reply to
email report sent to inforhc@enet.cu for English test. One card from Correspondence Dept and
one card signed by Arnie Coro CO2KK. (AP)
Finland: SWR Finland 11720 kHz. E- QSL received after 5 days for reception report sent to:
info@swradio.net (RC)
Germany: Mighty KBC 6095 kHz via Nauen. English programme+MFSK64. e-QSL in 10 hours
for reception report with audio clip sent to themightykbc@gmail.com (RM)
Mighty KBC 6095 kHz. e-QSL received in a few hours for email report sent to:
themightykbc@gmail.com (AJT)
TWR-Europe 6105kHz. English programme. e-QSL (in jpg format) received in 9 days for postal
report to TWR-UK, P.O Box 606, Altrincham, WA14 2YS, UK. email reply received from
Austrian office (Kalman Dobos at kdobos@twr.org). QSL features a sunset photograph of
antenna towers. (ARo)
Guam: International Radio for Disaster Relief via KTWR 15650 kHz. e-QSL card received in 7
days for email report sent to info@twr.asia .Card was for special IRDR test in English via KTWR
and pictures KTWR transmitters. Verifier-signer Kathy Gregowske who also attached a KTWR
schedule. (AP)
Guam International Radio for Disaster Relief via KTWR 15650 kHz. QSL card received in post
in 28 days for email report sent to info@twr.asia .Had already received an e-QSL for this report
(see QSL Report August). As well as card signed by Kathy Gregowske, also sent a personal
letter, KTWR schedule and religious tract. (AP)
32
International: HFCC trial program on International Radio for Disaster Relief project 15650 and
21840 kHz. QSL postcard received in 32 days for reception report sent to info@hfcc.org (TA)
Kuwait: Radio Kuwait 15540 kHz, English programme. Full data QSL certificate for report sent
to kwtfreq@media.gov.kw on 26/04/2013 with follow up on 11/10/2013. v/s Khaled Al-Ali, Asst.
Under Secretary of Engineering Affairs (RM)
Mariana Islands: Radio Free Asia. 9975 kHz via Tinian. Korean prog. Full data QSL card (dan
tranh musical instrument) in 24 days for reception report with audio clip sent to qsl@rfa.org (RM)
Radio Free Asia 15425 kHz via Tinian, Korean programme. Full data QSL card (IBB's Iranawila
relay site picture) received in 21 days for report with audio clip sent to qsl@rfa.org (RM)
Pirate: Bluebird 1638 kHz. e-QSL received in 69 days for email report sent to:
bleubird1944@hotmail.com (JGa)
Free Radio Bumbelstock 6240 kHz e-QSL and 5 studio pictures returned in 1 day for email
report sent to freeradiobumbelstock@hotmail.com (JGa)
Radio Technical Man 6200 kHz. e-QSL received in 21 days for reception report sent to
technicalman@hotmail.nl (RM)
Tips and Elvis Show 6220 kHz. e-QSL received in 1 day for report with audio clip sent to
t.eshow@hotmail.com (RM)
Radio 5 6300 kHz e-QSL received in 7 days for email report sent to swch@live.nl (JGa)
Wie Wat Woar 95,90 MHz after report sent to:Radio Wie Wat Waor, P/a De Dorpskern,
Johannes Poststraat 59, 7918 AB Nieuwlande, Netherlands got in return after 80 days :
unsigned selfprepared QSL & letter & logo & Ruimzicht sticker (JGa)
Norton 6320 kHz. e-QSL received in 42 days for email report sent to radio.norton@hotmail.com
(JGa)
Zender Akenzo 6305 kHz. e-QSL received in 1 day for email report sent to
horizonradio@hotmail.com (JGa)
Carmen Radio 6666 kHz. e-QSL received in 1 day for email report sent to
carmenradio@hotmail.com (JGa)
Radio Nordsee International 6210 & 6205 kHz. 2 QSLs received & 1 picture postcard received &
1 QSL card of Radio Paradise (Operator Hannibal of RNI wrote: "for many years I was also by
radio paradise active" address at envelope all sent by post to me in about 8 weeks in answer for
my postal report sent to Radio Nordsee International PO Box 2209, D-77612 Offenburg,
Deutschland (JGa)
Radio Batavia 1539 kHz. e-QSL received in 1 hour and 20 minutes for email report sent to:
radiobatavia@hotmail.com (JH)
Good Ship Venus 6266 kHz e-Qsl received in 22 minutes for email report sent to
jonger34@hotmail.com (JGa)
Romania: Radio Romania International 9540 Khz. Colour QSL card, stickers, calendar,
schedule and letter received after 6 weeks for mailed report send to Radio Romania
International, PO Box 111, 014700 Bucharest (Romania) (JK)
33
USA: WRMI 9955 kHz, Spanish program. Full data QSL card (WRMI Conference Room) in 110
days for reception report with audio clip sent to info@wrmi.net. v/s Jeff White (RM)
Radio Free Asia, 13675 kHz, Mandarin program. QSL received in 6 days for email report to:
techweb.rfa.org/files/qsl_front.html (AJT)
VOA Radiogram 15670 kHz in MFSK32. Radiogram 62 was aired the week that some
international stations made the Trial of International Radio for Disaster Relief (IRDR) and the
transmission included an item about the event. Kim Andrew Elliott encouraged sending reception
report to:radiogram@voanews.com with c.c. to info@hfcc.org. 16 days after was received a
special QSL card of the Trial direct from the HFCC headquarters in Prague verifying my
reception report with audio clip of the Radiogram broadcast. Radiogram 62 e-QSL was received
from VOA after 6 days for the same reception report. (RM)
AWR Wavescan via WRMI Okeechobee FL 15770 kHz. QSL card received in post in 15 days
for email report sent to wavescan@awr.org .Card pictured AWR President, Dr Dowell Chow in
WRMI studio. Verified signer was Dr Adrian Peterson who also sent AWR Wavescan contest
details, a religious tract and postcard of Indiana. (A separate QSL card for same report received
in post 6 days later!) (AP)
Vietnam. Voice of Vietnam 9730kHz. English program. QSL card for a postal report received
in 47 days. The QSL features a beautiful view of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, with Turquoise blue
water and red Vietnamese boats amongst the kart landscape all around. (ARo)
Dear friends,
Many
thanks
for
continued
contributions to the section that I
hope can continue in future to make
this page better. Please remember to
include details about the programme
or department of the radio stations
that you received confirmation from
(e.g. English, French programme
etc.) and the postal or eMail address
where you send the reception report.
NOTE: When you received a normal
paper QSL please write in your
contribution "QSL", while if you
received any Electronic Card please
inform in this way: "e-QSL card".
Thanks Dario
34
Friends of the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) represents the Australian public
interest in its national public broadcaster. It comprises Friends of the ABC organisations from
every Australian state and territory working together in a national campaign. See
http://www.abcfriends.org.au Thousands have been protesting against the Conservative
governments massive cuts to the ABC, which includes Radio Australia.
35
Medium Wave
A 12 year licence renewal has been granted to Panjab Radio London Ltd / Turkish Gold
Radio, which broadcasts on 1584 kHz in North London. (Ofcom radio update 5 August)
FM community radio
The Hub (Cornwall 106.1 and 106.4 MHz) now has its third transmitter up and running.
Frequencies are St Mawes (200W mixed on 106.4), Megavissey (25W vertical on 106.4), Truro
(200W mixed on 106.1 MHz)
Penwith Radio (West Cornwall 96.5 and 97.2 MHz) launches on 30
August after two weeks of tests. The transmitters are at Penzance (25W
vertical on 96.5) and St Just (25W vertical on 97.2) with coverage from
Sennen in the west to Hayle in the east. The station is based at Wharfside
Shopping Centre, Market Jew Street, Penzance, TR18 2GB.
www.penwithradio.co.uk
Quay FM (Alderney) When Quay FM starts up under its new community radio licence it will be
with a new frequency and from a new location at the Harbour. Chief Executive Colin Mason OBE
said it would take about six months for negotiations with the French over what frequency could
be allocated to the station. That would also give them time to convert their new Braye Lodge
headquarters into a radio station and train volunteers. (The Journal 13 June via DJM)
The timetable for inviting applications for community radio licences has been revised.
East of England Ofcom will be accepting applications from the next region, East of England
(with Northampton-shire and Milton Keynes) from Wednesday 24 September. The closing date
for submissions is 5pm on Tuesday 16 December.
South East England Ofcom has amend the region covering south east England, it will now be
split it into two separate regions - south east England (outside the M25), and Greater London and
other areas within the M25. By inviting applications from smaller geographical areas, Ofcom
hopes to be able to reach licence award decisions more quickly.
Midlands. The closing date for applications from the Midlands was 24 June 2014. One more
application for this region has been included - 6 Towns Radio (Stoke-on-Trent area). [see full list
of other applicants in August UK News)
FM commercial radio
Radio Hafren now on FM - According
to their Twitter announcements, Radio
Hafren who broadcast to Mid-Wales on
756 kHz have also been broadcasting
on 102.1MHz for Newtown, Welshpool
and the surrounding area since 11 August. More info at www.radiohafren.co.uk/fm/ (Nick Rank,
16 August). Tests from Radio Hafren reported on 102.1 MHz in late July. The new transmitter is
on the Dolfor to Kerry Road in Newtown, initially running 500W but will increase to 1.6 kW once a
permanent mast is installed. (posts on digitalspy 28 July)
36
The Pulse has moved to new studios on the top floor of One St James Business Park, Bradford.
The station had been based at Forster Square, Bradford, since its launch as Pennine Radio in
1975. It has also rebranded to Pulse 1 to match its sister station Pulse 2, following similar
branding of other stations in the UTV group (Signal 1 / Signal 2 etc). (Radio Today 28 July)
Current short-term RSLs (Restricted Service Licences)
RSL Area
MHz
Station ID
Purpose
Birmingham
Bridport
East Wordham, Alton
Goodwood, Chichester
Inverness
Isle of Wight*
Keighley
Kenilworth
Tarrant Hinton, Dorset
87.7
87.7
87.7
87.7
106.1
87.7*
102.1
87.7
87.9
Indus R
Bridport FM
Jalsa FM (main)
Goodwood Revival R
Monster FM
Bestival FM
Hajj FM
Nationals FM
Steam Fair FM
Dates
Lithuania New schedule of MW transmissions from Sitkunai, Lithuania, received directly from
Rimantas Pleikys, Radio Baltic Waves International project co-ordinator:
Kaunas / Sitkunai, 1386 kHz, 75 kW
0200-0330 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian
0330-0400 NHK World, Russian
0400-0500 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusian
1730-1800 NHK World, Russian
1800-1900 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian
1900-2000 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusian
2000-2100 Polish Radio, Belarusian
2100-2200 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian
612 kHz is not used any longer; this transmitter was switched off on 17 August. Note the
shortened relay of RL Belarussian (now only 2 hours per day) and the new relay of RL Russian
(3.5 hours per day). Reception reports are welcome and will be confirmed. Email: riplei@takas.lt
Postal address: Rimantas Pleikys, Radio Baltic Waves International, Algirdo Str. 13-9, Vilnius,
LT-03219 Lithuania. (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia - mwdx yg 19 August)
Pakistan New 100 kW 711 kHz transmitter at Dera Ismail Khan. Radio Pakistan has installed a
new high-power transmitter at Dera Ismail Khan (NW Frontier Province) to boost reach and
quality of its broadcasts. The transmitter will be inaugurated at a ceremony at DI Khan on 7
August where Director General Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Samina Parvez will be the
chief guest. The new 100 kW transmitter, installed with the assistance of USAID, replaces 10 kW
low power transmitter. The new digital transmitter is strong enough to carry broadcasts of DI
Khan Radio to a radius of 160 km during day time and over 400 km at night, making broadcasts
audible in entire KPK,FATA, many areas of Balochistan, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and some areas
of Afghanistan. The project is part of the plan being implemented by Radio Pakistan to replace
old transmitters with modern digital transmitters. <http://www.radio.gov.pk/newsdetail/66055/3>
(via Alokesh Gupta, dxsasia 7 Aug via BC-DX)
Russia Radio Bonch, St. Petersburg, on 1593 kHz is a students' station of the Bonch-Bruyevich
State University of Telecommunications. I myself organised test MW transmissions. We plan to
get a constant licence for amateur radio broadcasting as Radio Magic Eye of Moscow did.
And, of course, me and Omar plan to launch DX programme of St. Petersburg DX Club via this
station (Alexander Beryozkin, St. Petersburg, 16 July, DSWCI DX Window)
Sri Lanka PCJ Radio International's new programme for listeners in India coming soon. Song of
India will feature classic Bollywood songs as well as other classic hits from Southeast Asia, UK,
US, Australia and more. The date and time of the first program will be announced soon. The
frequency will be 1125 kHz mediumwave [via Puttalam, Sri Lanka-ed]. (Keith Perron 26 July on
PCJ Media and PCJ Radio Facebook page)
Turkey Still active in Turkey on medium wave are 891 kHz Antalya (Aksu) and 927 kHz Izmir
(Cumaovas). There are, again, the only two regional studios. The daily broadcasts start with a
local announcement 0255 GMT, followed by the Turkish national anthem. The regional
programmes end at 1700 GMT and they then relay the information programme Radyo Bir.
(Rumen Pankov 10 August via Dario Monferin)
Mauno Ritola (Finland) confirms that TRT is still also active on 630 and 1062 kHz;
Mustafa Cankurt in Turkey confirms that 702 kHz is now off air. (Mauno Ritola WRTH 22 Aug)
39
Ukraine UR1 reported in late July on 549 kHz (Mykolaiv) and 711 kHz (Dokuchaievsk). (Reports
in RusDX 27 Jul- 3 Aug)
USA Radio Disney is selling all but one of its AM radio stations and
says it is focusing more on digital distribution and away from broadcast.
The company partners on digital services such as SiriusXM and has
new deals with ShowMobile, Slacker and Aha Radio. There is also a
Radio Disney app for iPhone, iPad and Android phones. The company
plans to sell 23 out of its 24 AM stations, effective 26 September. The
one station its keeping, KDIS(AM), Los Angeles, will originate Radio
Disneys national programming. (Radio World 8 August) Stations being
sold include WQEW AM 1560 in New York - which is often logged in Europe.(ed)
Algeria A14 schedule of Radio TV Algerienne via Issoudun, France (all 500 kW to N Africa)
0400-0459 7295 Arabic Nat. Chaine 1
0500-0559 7295 Arabic Nat. Chaine 1
0500-0505 9535 French news bulletin
0505-0559 9535 Arabic Holy Quran px
0600-0605 11985 French news bulletin
0605-0659 11985 Arabic Holy Quran px
1800-1900 13820 Arabic Nat. Chaine 1
1900-2000 11765 Arabic Nat. Chaine 1
1900-1905 13820 French news bulletin
1905-1959 13820 Arabic Holy Quran px
2000-2100 9375 Arabic Nat. Chaine 1
2000-2005 11765 French news bulletin
2005-2059 11765 Arabic Holy Quran px
2100-2200 7495 Arabic Nat. Chaine 1
2100-2105 9375 French news bulletin
2105-2159 9375 Arabic Holy Quran px
2200-2205 7495 French news bulletin
2205-2259 7495 Arabic Holy Quran px
(Swldxbulgaria Blog 23 August)
Australia Many of Radio Australias own programmes were cancelled in August as part of the
recent cuts, with airtime replaced by relays of ABC domestic networks such as Radio National
and Triple J. The RA web site on 19 August states We are in the process of updating our radio
schedule. Were introducing some new shows and some existing ones have moved to new time
slots. Please stay tuned, well be publishing the full new schedule soon. The good news is that
so far there have been no cuts to shortwave frequency usage. (various reports Aug 2014)
Reach Beyond Australia (ex HCJB) seemingly now on 11590 kHz throughout the 1225-1500
UTC period. (Wolfgang Bueschel BC-DX 30 July)
Vintage FM via the facilities of OzyRadio is back on air on 3210 kHz. Heard at 1105 UTC on 19
August. (Ian Baxter-Australia dxld yg)
Azerbaijan Ictimai Radio in FM mode was back on its traditional frequency on 9677v (ex 11760)
observed around 1730 UTC on 13 August (Bulgarian SW Blog) This Baku-based station is
probably intended to jam the Nagorno-Karabakh (pro Armenian) Voice of Justice on 9677. (ed)
Bulgaria / Qatar The audio of the Arabic channel of Al Jazeera TV was observed on 14 August
by the Bulgarian DX Bloggers testing on 15760 at 0400-1555 and 7300/7305/7310 kHz from
1600-0355. HFCC Registrations for 15 August gave the schedule as 0700-1555 on 15760 and
1600-0655 on 7305 kHz via Kostinbrod. Presumably a test as not heard since (as of 23 August)
40
China The Bulgarian DX Bloggers reported that CRI suspended transmissions on a number of
frequencies from the Urumqi site between 1-20 August. Presumably these were off the air for
scheduled maintenance.
Cuba Arnie Coro mentioned these frequency changes for Radio Habana Cuba on his 'DXers
Unlimited' programme last night (heard at 0430 UTC 30-July on 6000 kHz):
from 25th July RHC have dropped 9550 kHz at 1100-1300 UTC and dropped 15340 kHz at
1300-1500 UTC [all were Spanish]
But from 25th July RHC have extended its use of 11760 kHz (100 kW) after 1500 UTC, now until
1900 UTC.
From 1500-1800 UTC 11760 now broadcasts the 'Cuba Online' programme in Spanish
(previously only on the internet).
Plus from 1800-1830 11760 now has Arabic and from 1830-1900 now has Portuguese**.
No changes to English frequencies mentioned. (Alan Pennington)
**Glenn Hauser reports hearing Creole instead of Portuguese on 29-30 July.:
Finland Radio Gramox is now operating on 3960 kHz with 50 W from Hmeenkyr (Tampere),
Finland. http://www.gramox.fi (via Mauno Ritola WRTH Facebook 9 August). The station plays
old Finnish music from the 1920s to the 1960s and launched in 2013. It broadcasts locally on
FM 106.8 MHz and has a low-power short wave licence for 3960, 7230 and 25760 kHz as well as
medium wave 729 kHz medium wave (web site says 729 coming soon). Of the three
shortwave frequencies, only 3960 is currently active. Heard here with a very weak signal around
2300 UTC on 9 and 24 August, only audible in LSB due to DRM interference from 3965.
Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Finlands other licensed shortwave station, broadcasts only on
the first Saturday of each month starting at 2100 UTC Friday until 2100 Saturday. Frequencies
are 5890 or 6170 plus 11690 or 11720, although the 11 MHz transmitter has been off for several
months. Russ Cummings reports I think SWR, Finland is now on 11720 at 1335 UTC although
their schedule states 11690 kHz is on at this time. Currently playing heavy rock, SINPO 34223,
lots of noise and static crashes (Russ Cummings, 2 August - BDXC-News yg)
Germany A new low-power private shortwave station called Europa 24 / Europe 24 has started
testing from Datteln, Germany on 6150 kHz. First reported in July with low power tests and
thanks to a tip from Harald Kuhl heard testing around 2300 UTC on 2 August with recorded IDs
in English, German and Dutch, announcing as coming soonU Europe 24 U information and
entertainment station for the whole of Europe. Good signal in UK at this time. Also heard
subsequent days approx 1600-2330 UTC. The stations registered address is: DG2YID, Bernd
Feyock, Johann-Strauss-Str. 22, 45711 Datteln. HFCC has registered 0600-1900 UTC with 15
kW. (Wolfgang Bschel, Andree Bollinn, via BC-DX; Harald Kuhl, Dave Kenny)
Radio Andernach on 7325 kHz DRM signal from German army station Radio Andernach was
observed on 7325 kHz on 3 Aug at 0205UTC. No audio decoded, but the DRM text shows
"Mmedia, German, Germany, audio conditional access --- Information, Radio Andernach". Web
site http://www.radio-andernach.bundeswehr.de/ (via Google translate): "Radio Andernach offers
a 24-hour full programme: In Kosovo and Afghanistan, soldiers can receive the channel on FM.
In addition, for relatives at home Radio Andernach is also available via web stream." (Alan Roe)
Greece ERT Open have posted (15 July) a summer frequency schedule online as follows (times
listed on website as Greece Time, converted here to UTC):
1200-0350 9935
1200-0800 9420
0100-0800 15630
1200-1950 15650
2000-0050 15630
0400-0800 11645
Actual operating times vary considerably from the above - but I am impressed (and amazed) that
the programmes of ERT Open continue at all. (Alan Roe 17 August)
41
Laos Lao National Radio heard on 6130 kHz at 1359 UTC on 5 August with usual theme music
before segment in English; heard bits & pieces of their normal ID; "This is the Lao National Radio,
broadcasting from Vientiane capital, the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Our news in English
program broadcasts at 2100 to 2130 hours local time daily, which is transmitted on AM 567 kHz.
on medium wave and on AM 6130 kHz. on shortwave"; poor, but pleased to find they still have
English at 1400 UT. (Ron Howard-California, -USA, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews 6 Aug)
After several days with just a carrier on 6130 kHz tonight I have a good readable signal from
LNR, Vientiane domestic service at 2230 UTC. (Harald Kuhl, listening in N. Denmark, 12 Aug)
Lithuania Only two transmissions remain on SW per Aoki, both relays of other stations:
0100-0400 RFA in Uighur on 9400
0430-0500 NHK Russian on 6165 (Glenn Hauser dxld)
Netherlands Radio Netherlands cancels last remaining SW broadcast Radio Nederland has
announced that after prolonging SW for two years (only for a half hour M-F broadcast in Spanish),
that too is being cancelled as of 2 August - no more SW at all. Had been 0000-0030 UT Tue-Sat
via WHRI 9895, presumably now silent. However, some programs (? Is that what to call them?)
remain via other media (Glenn Hauser, dxld yg 4 August)
Papua New Guinea The only active PNG stations on shortwave as of 3 August are:
3205 Radio Sundaun
3260 Radio Madang
3385 Radio East New Britain
7325 Wantok Radio Light
(Craig Seager, Australia. Dxplorer)
3235 NBC Southern Highlands reactivated 18 August.
(Ron Howard, dxld yg)
Peru A new SW station in La Libertad Department has been registered on 4910 kHz with 1 kW.
(Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin 20 July / Glenn Hauser dxld). Glenn Hauser has
discovered three more previously unknown and potentially new SW stations in the list of new
authorisations - presumably these are planned and not yet on the air:
5020 kHz 5 kW Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Asociacin Catlica San Jos. Planta: Av. Aeropuerto
s/n, Afueras de la Ciudad Chachapoyas; Estudios: Jr. Amazonas No. 1177
5050 kHz, 1 kW: Empresa Radiodifusora Comercial Amistad S.C.R.L., Planta: Zona la Cantuta,
Chiquian, Ancash, Bolognesi, Chiquian; estudios: Plaza de Armas s/n Chiquian, ibid.
4940 kHz 1 kW: Asociacin Promotora San Francisco Solano, Planta y Estudios: Esquina de
las Calles Rioja con Iquitos, Ucayali, Atalaya, Raymondi (dxld yg)
Poland / Germany While scanning the bands I logged Polish Radio in English via Radio 700 on
7310 kHz around 1440 utc on 24 July. Checked the next day and Polish Radio heard from signon at 1430 utc with sign-off at 1500 utc. Fair reception. (Edwin Southwell) When checked on 21
August a Radio 700 programme in German was being carried in the 1430-1500 slot (dk)
Russia Voice of Russia, which suspended shortwave broadcasts on 31 March due to financial
difficulties, has registered an extensive SW schedule with the HFCC, including English to Europe
and North America. The start date is given as 1 October 2014. However, this may just be a
contingency in case funding for the broadcasts is restored. Alokesh Gupta (via dxld) wrote to
Voice of Russia and received a reply on 21 August saying that Although the plans to re-open the
VOR shortwave broadcasts are being considered, at this point nothing can be said for sure
regarding its status in the near future.
Spain Cuts to REE shortwave broadcasts. Listening on 2 August
at 2100 UTC to the English transmission on 9660 kHz and their
programme "Listeners Club". Alison Hughes said that it is not
certain if REE will be on air after 1 October. I assume she is
referring to the English broadcast rather than REE as a whole, but
she didn't clarify further. (Alan Roe)
42
In "Listener's Club" on 15 August more details were given of impending cuts at REE: From 1
September, REE will eliminate their live news broadcast and will present a 1-hour recorded
programme which will be broadcast on TVE television at 1am [presume local time ie 0000 UTC]
Monday to Saturday. The shortwave service [to Europe/Africa at 1900 Monday-Friday and 2100
Saturday-Sunday] will be discontinued from 1 September. The shortwave broadcast at 0000 UTC
to North America will continue until 1 October when it is likely that the shortwave service will be
terminated. No mention was made of impact to Spanish language programming. Details were
unclear, but it may be that the 1-hour recorded programme will remain available via the REE
website as a daily podcast (I guess following the example of stations such as Radio Bulgaria which prepares a daily "podcast" of features and current affairs). (Alan Roe 15 August)
REE announces that from September (no date given), the only remaining transmission in French
will be at 0000-0100 (so ex 2300-0000?) [presumably to North America on 6055 khz-ed]. French
to Africa, the Mid-East & Europe will be cancelled. (REE 18 Aug via Jean-Michel Aubier dxld yg)
Sri Lanka Transmissions of PCJ Radio International (Sundays 1230-1330 on 13720 via Sri
Lanka) were cancelled from 20 July. (DX Mix) PCJ is instead planning to start a medium wave
broadcast to India via Sri Lanka - see medium wave above. (ed)
SLBC noted with new sign off on 11905 kHz now from 0115-0230 (ex -0330) (Jose Jacob dxld 19
Aug). US religious programmes in English still heard Saturdays 0230-0300, Sundays 0230-0330,
but on weekdays now only in Hindi and Tamil at 0115-0230 (RP observations Aug)
Sweden The Radio Nord Revival broadcast took place on 23-24 August with test transmissions
also on 22 August. Frequencies used were as follows:
MW 1512 kHz from Kvarnberget, Vallentuna. Licensed 2.5 kW but using 1 kW, antenna 37m.
SW 3950 / 6065 / 9295 from Ringvalla, Sala. Power 10 kW, antenna height 12m.
SW 5770 kHz from The Castle, Vaxholm. Licensed power 0.5 kW antenna height 12m.
This was a one-off chance to hear a broadcasting signal from The Castle - the place where the
first broadcast ever in Sweden was made on 1 September 1919.
Reception reports can be sent to: Ronny Forslund, Radio Nord Revival, Vita Huset, 17995
Svartsj, Sweden. Return postage in the form of $ or IRC's is much appreciated.
http://radionordrevival.blogspot.se/
Reception of Radio Nord was widely reported on the BDXC-News group by several members.
Harald Kulh at the DX farm
site in northern Denmark
had good daytime signals
on both 6065 and 3950 kHz,
while members in the UK
reported only a weak
daytime signal on 6065, but
fair
to
good
evening
reception on both freqs. On
23 August Radio Nord
switched to 9295usb from
1910-0500 utc heard in UK,
France and North America
with
good
reception.
Broadcasts continued on 24
August on 6065 (Reports by
HK, NR, RC, AP, DK, GS see also HF Logbook)
Above Bernt Nyberg operating Radio Nords 10 kW SW transmitter at Ringvalla.
43
UTC
1105
2235
1106
1520
1110
1108
2301
1104
2122
2025
SIO
253
poor
354
fair
344
454
good
233
354
v gd
Date
25/07
28/07
25/07
18/07
25/07
25/07
28/07
25/07
25/07
17/08
Inits
SHo
ap
SHo
AP
SHo
SHo
ap
SHo
SHo
AP
fair
17/08
AP
Nick Ward writes that during the past few weeks he noticed few openings of any great measure.
I have identified one more FM station on 105.6 - this is the France Info station transmitted from
Cherbourg; not so far away. I tried to listen to the Cowes RSL on 87.9 but heard nothing
(Communication Aug 14, p30). I will try again with the Bournemouth Air Festival on 87.7 at the
end of August.
Simon Hockenhull writes: Not much to report this month with no Sporadic E openings and
thanks to the unstable air mass which has prevailed for the last few weeks I have not noticed
any tropo openings just the usual national signals fading in from Oxford, North Hessary Tor,
Rowridge, Ridge Hill and occasionally Wrotham. On DAB I have been monitoring allocation 10B
and 10D for any test transmissions from Mendip of the new local Somerset multiplex. There has
been nothing so far. Apparently Somerset was allocated 10D but has had to change to 10B as
the coverage of the local Wiltshire multiplex is being expanded and will need to switch to 10D.
Tim Bucknall notes that this summer there have been a few RDS readings erroneously showing
up. This can occur when the RDS codes from two station become merged. He recalls seeing this
with John Faulkner several years ago on a Blaupunkt radio. There was a Barnsley RSL on 107
which his rx displayed as "cornsley" which for some reason (perhaps because it was 2 a.m.) we
found hilarious! One of Simon Hockenhulls logs seems to have done this, when on 87.9 on 3
July at 1351 a French stations RDS showed up as RCS F1. An interesting anomaly of
technology. Of course there was no RDS to worry about for FM DXers back in 1974!
Bandscan, Corfu, 14-15 August 2014
Alex Mackow writes: I have just come back from a week-long stay in Corfu. We stayed at
Kassiopi, which is in the north of the island, just a few miles from Albania. Hence the FM log
includes some stations from Albania and Italy as well as the expected Greek stations. I took my
Sangean ATS-909 and used the telescopic antenna for my FM log. The log was compiled over a
couple of days around 14th and 15th of August. RDS ids in capitals. The Albanian stations played
the current chart music that can be heard in the UK with English jingles such as Top Albania
Radio. Some of the Greek stations played the same English music too, but others played
typical Greek as well as Greek religious music. (See also MW Logbook).
45
MHz
87.6
88.2
88.8
89.2
90.1
90.3
90.6
91.1
91.8
94.1
95.8
97.5
97.9
98.4
98.8
99.3
99.7
100.1
100.4
101.1
102.1
102.9
103.6
104.7
105.1
106.6
107.0
WWKB Buffalo NY. ESPN Radio, ID, promo Mike & Mike, ESPN3 ad. 333
CKDO Oshawa ON. promo: durhamradionews.com, jingle, Elton John. 322
Caribbean Beacon, Anguilla. YL preacher in EE //6090 kHz.
343
R Rebelde, Cuba. OM in SS plus Cuban mx //5025 kHz.
232
WGIT Faro de Santidad Canovanas PR (pres). excited SS preacher, lots
of Hallelujahs!
242
1690 0357 CHTO Toronto ON (pres). Greek mx, songs. (also 31/7 @ 0343 Gk mx) 142
1700 0353 KKLF Richardson TX (pres). Distinctive Tejano music with accordions,
No ID heard at top of hour, songs continued through.
232
Asia
1071 1910 AIR, Rajkot,Vividh Bharati Sce in Hindi; songs under Al-Nur, Syria
1566 1915 AIR, Nagpur, Nat Sce in Hindi //9425
46
31/07
01/08
31/07
30/07
ap
ap
ap
ap
31/07 ap
01/08 ap
31/07 ap
11/08
12/08
04/08
12/08
11/08
12/08
02/08
12/08
26/07
26/07
27/07
14/08
12/08
02/08
RP*
RP*
RP*
RP*
RP*
RP*
RP*
RP*
NRe
SHo
NRe
NRe
RP*
JH
Africa
531
531
585
630
981
981
1422
1422
1530
1530
1566
0320
2214
1925
0340
0325
2235
0327
2230
2130
2000
0333
Europe
549
0300
549
2216
576
2050
585
2045
603
2123
639
2030
657
2145
666
2120
684
2020
702
2125
702
2218
711
2130
738
2155
756
2230
783
2045
792
2153
801
2155
837
2210
855
2010
864
2100
864
1854
873
1935
891
2035
936
2145
954
2130
990
2115
999
2140
1008 2255
1017 2030
422
344
242
422
343
244
422
122
243
133
242
13/08
14/08
04/08
13/08
13/08
08/08
13/08
25/07
03/07
27/07
13/08
RP*
SHo
RP*
RP*
RP*
NRe
RP*
NRe
SHo
NRe
RP*
422
333
233
233
344
222
244
233
344
344
243
444
344
444
233
243
333
133
233
444
253
233
233
222
344
344
244
444
233
14/08
14/08
19/07
15/08
03/08
30/07
15/08
30/07
16/08
03/08
14/08
31/07
01.08
01/08
02/08
14/08
02/08
03/08
04/08
05/08
02/08
04/08
07/08
16/08
08/08
06/08
09/08
09/08
10/08
RP*
SHo
NRe
NRe
SHo
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
SHo
SHo
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
SHo
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
SHo
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
47
1044
1116
1125
1134
1170
1179
1188
1206
1242
1242
1252
1269
1269
1278
1278
1287
1377
1404
1440
1485
1494
1494
1494
1494
1512
1512
1557
2010
2040
1910
1930
1915
2208
2220
2207
2120
2045
2155
2110
2205
2121
2125
2035
2225
2125
2140
1847
1920
2135
2045
2158
2133
2310
2135
British Isles
630
2210
657
2150
720
2150
801
1645
810
2145
810
2020
846
2147
882
2000
990
1646
1296 2200
1341 2045
1341 1850
1368 2140
1431 2143
1449 2138
1485 2300
1503 2204
1530 2145
1557 1844
1566 1847
1602 1842
1602 1857
333
233
133
133
233
333
243
445
344
233
233
244
445
243
244
244
244
133
344
232
533
253
133
333
243
222
343
11/08
11/08
12/08
12/08
13/08
14/08
14/08
14/08
03/08
22/07
22/07
23/07
14/08
03/08
23/07
17/08
24/07
25/07
26/07
04/08
11/08
02/08
26/07
14/08
15/08
23/08
02/08
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
NRe
NRe
NRe
SHo
SHo
NRe
NRe
NRe
NRe
SHo
RP*
RP*
SHo
NRe
SHo
SHo
DK
SHo
232
243
243
343
343
344
243
122
243
244
244
243
343
243
242
233
242
242
243
233
343
243
14/08
14/08
02/08
24/07
02/08
03/08
02/08
07/08
24/07
17/08
24/07
02/08
02/08
26/07
02/08
12/08
14/08
26/07
02/08
02/08
02/08
02/08
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
NRe
Sho
NRe
SHo
NRe
NRe
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
LPAM, Community Radio, RSL & Irish Temporary Licence (all LPAM unless stated)
1179 1225 R BGWS, Farnborough (pres) YL in Nepali (hrd on portable in power cut) 141
1287 0750 R Glan Clwyd, Rhyl. cont pops, 0800 ID: ... Radio Ysbyty Glan Clwyd 344
1287 1500 BHR, Basildon Hospital, Essex. nx, IDs, Basildon Hospital BHR-1287
sung jingle. (Hrd Bradfield-on-Sea, Essex)
242
1386 0450 R JCom, Leeds (pres). EE talk px, 0457: mx (R Clatterbridge nulled)
222
48
06/08 AP
30/07 ap
18/08 AP
30/07 ap
1386 2229 R JCom Leeds. Jewish mx, ID/jingle. 2245: old music/songs. (audible
best on LSB with local Blast 1386 on silent carrier + Energy Dublin off) 131
1386 0501 R Clatterbridge, Wirral. nx, Light and Early, R Clatterbridge sung jingle. 343
1521 0740 Flame CCR, Wirral. UCB UK wx. local wx, tide times Lpool & Wirral.
343
1575 1215 Stoke Mandeville Hospital R, Bucks. Loves Theme, Stoke Mandeville
Hospital Radio ID. (hrd during power cut on Sony 7600GR)
142
Long Wave
153
2030 NReK1. OM Norwegian
122
153
2135 Antena Satalor, Brasov Romania Local mx
232
162
0758 France Inter, Allouis. 2 YLs with talk on children, ad for MSF, FF
454
171
2330 Medi 1, Morocco. Euro mx // weak 9575
233
171
2137 Medi 1, Nador, Morocco Pop/dance mx FF
242
177
2130 DLR Documente, Zehlendorf Germany GG Sp
344
183
0810 Europe 1, Saarlouis, Germany. OMs with discussion, // web, FF
434
189
0035 RUV, Gufuskalar Iceland Male Icelandic presenter
243
207
0036 RUV, Eidar Iceland Male Icelandic presenter
222
207
0040 DLF, Aholming, Germany Male presenter GG
444
216
2139 RMC, Romoules, France FF sp
344
225
2138 PR1, Solec Kujawski, Poland Polish sp
243
216
2115 RMC Info. FF OM
133
225
2015 PolskieR1. YL Polish
133
234
0838 RTL, Beidweiler, Luxembourg. YL on phone, comp winner, ID,FF
454
252
2250 RTE 1. Golden oldies
133
261
2326 Horizont, Bulgaria. YL ID Radio Bulgaria & Horizont. web promo.
243
261
2104 Horizonte, Sofia Bulgaria Female presenter Bulgarin sp
243
270
2126 CRo1, Topolna Czech Republic Czech sp
343
11/08 AP
30/07 ap
01/08 ap
06/08 AP
14/08
26/07
19/08
05/08
26/07
15/08
19/08
02/08
02/08
02/08
26/07
26/07
28/08
15/08
19/08
28/07
05/08
15/08
15/08
NRe
SHo
SH
DK
SHo
SHo
SH
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
SHo
NRe
NRe
SH
NRe
DK
SHo
SHo
Alan Pennington writes: Even in the height of summer it's possible to hear some trans-Atlantic
stations in Lancashire on the coast south of Preston just on my Sony 7600GR portable sat inside
a home-made loop, though this time conditions were a bit noisy.
Simon Hockenhull writes: I managed a few interesting UK catches, one with one of my 1960s
transistor radio and heard Iceland for the first time this summer on both its Long Wave outlets
again using one of my 1960s portable radios. Its sad to see three of the French AM France Info
stations close down forever and I suppose it is a sign of things to come. I notice in the WRTH
that France Info seems to be slotted in on FM around the 105 MHz area although the coverage
is not as extensive as the main FM networks.
I am still able to listen to RTE1 on 252 kHz free from co channel interference day and night.
On the 02 August it was quite strange to hear Donna Summers I feel love record within 10
minutes of each other from two stations and from the same region.
Bandscan, Corfu, 14-15 August 2014 Alex Mackow writes:
On MW, during the day there was nothing that could be heard with ease, there were traces of
signals on 630, 675 (Arabic sounding?), 756, 810, 936 (Italian?), 1395 but these were very weak
and could not be identified. In the evenings, the band was much busier and I could hear UK
Radio 5 on 693 and 909 as well as TalkSport on 1089.
On LW, during the day I could only hear a very weak French station on 162 kHz. During the
evening I could hear French on 162, German on 177, French on 183, Radio 4 on 198, French on
216 and Polish First Programme on 225. All of these were strong enough to listen to with ease.
I did not listen to short wave on this occasion. Since the BBC World Service is not broadcasting
during the day to anywhere close to Corfu, it is more or less inaudible during the day. Instead I
just checked the news on my mobile phone in the evenings when in range of a wi-fi hotspot.
guess its a sign of the times. (See also Beyond the Horizon)
Thanks to all the contributors. I'll make space for your late-Summer holiday loggings next month,
so no excuses... 73s Susan
49
UTC
3320
3950
3950
2355
1254
1929
3955
3955
3960
3985
4055
4319u
4750
2005
2014
2202
2134
0100
2334
1804
4765
4765
4780
4800
4800
4800
4800
4800
4835
4835
4835
4840
4840
4840
4875
4875.1
0350
2334
1800
0020
2058
2100
2235
2318
2022
2038
2134
0410
0502
0605
0120
0334
4885
4905
4905
4905
4905
4910
4915
0016
2050
2100
2131
2250
2134
0009
4920
4920
4920
4925
4930
4940
4940
4940
4940
4960
4976
4976
4976
4976
5015
0038
2132
2348
0129
1809
2031
2034
2046
2050
0403
1826
2042
2137
2215
0002
50
SIO Date
Init.
17/08 AM
22/08 HKf
22/08
22/08
29/07
23/08
26/07
17/08
17/08
AP
AP
SHo
DK
SHo
AM
AM
12/08
29/07
16/08
16/08
17/08
16/08
23/07
14/07
16/08
01/08
03/08
09/08
18/08
04/08
11/08
17/08
AM
AP
AM
AM
AM
AM
NRe
SHo
KOD
AM
GB
DH
RM
KOD
DH
AM
27/07
17/08
03/08
05/08
26/07
16/08
24/07
RAD*
AM
GB
NRe
SHo
KOD
AM
14/08
17/08
26/07
17/08
17/08
16/08
03/08
17/08
03/08
02/08
27/07
12/08
03/08
05/08
05/08
22/08
RAD*
AM
SHo
AM
AM
AM
KOD
AM
GB
NRe
RAD*
AM
GB
DH
SH
DK
5025
5025
5025
5025
5040
5040
5040
5040
5040
0421
0545
2130
2348
0001
0557
0500
0530
0606
353
222
342
343
453
222
353
353
333
30/07
17/08
24/07
16/08
17/08
17/08
13/08
20/08
11/08
ap
KOD
AM
AM
AM
KOD
AP
AP
DH
Thanks to everybody who contributed this month! Arthur Miller has again heard what he thinks
was Dunamis Shortwave from Uganda on 4750 kHz with English religious programming at
th
1830 on 12 August. As there is nothing else that would broadcast English religious programmes
on 4750, Im sure his presumption is correct!
Radio Nord Revival which celebrates the early sixties offshore
station has been broadcasting from Sala, Sweden for the past two
days on 3950 kHz. Has Sweden ever used the 90 metre band
before? Their signal has been pretty good after dark here in the
UK, considering theyre only using 5 kilowatts, so its a pity this is
only a short term licence to commemorate 100 years of Vaxholm
Radio. Having looked through the club archive of Communication
in recent weeks, you realise which stations and countries have
disappeared from shortwave in the past forty years!
Until next month, 73s and Good DX! Alan
HF Logbook
Edited by Stephen Howie - hfl@bdxc.org.uk
Analogue
kHz
UTC
SIO
Date
Init.
5830
5850
5875
5875
5910
5910
5915
5920
5930
5936.73
5939.9
5940
5960
5960
5960
5964.7
5975
5975
5975
5985
0400
0727
0542
2054
0445
0528
2110
0358
2000
2120
2219
2224
2005
2151
2243
2213
0500
0505
0510
1820
252
232
343
242
454
242
252
533
444
fair
242
242
444
555
343
122
454
554
455
555
03/08
28/07
16/08
09/08
13/08
16/08
10/08
12/08
01/08
03/08
10/08
03/08
27/07
05/08
10/08
16/08
20/08
12/08
01/08
28/07
RP
MTG
MLF
MLF
AP
MLF
RP
RP
MLF
GB
MLF
MLF
SHo
DH
MLF
MTG
AP
AP
CS
JCa
51
5985
5995
5995
6000
6000
6000
6000
6005
6005
6020
6025
6030
6055
6055
6060
6060
6060
6060
6060
6060
6060
6060
6065
6065
6065
6065
6065
6065
6070
6070
6080
6080
6080
6089.9
6090
6090
6090
6095
6095
6095
6100
6100
6100
6100
6100
6110
6115
6115
6120
6130
6130
6130
6130
6130
6135
6134.83
6135
6150
0431
2133
2212
0410
0425
0555
2228
0512
1645
1840
2130
0557
1900
2056
0500
0510
0515
0609
0640
2148
2155
2247
0655
1430
1230
1240
1725
2102
0620
1625
1805
1840
2143
1900
0423
0550
1830
0831
1101
1422
0535
0610
1830
1834
1843
2037
0605
2117
2203
1804
1835
1844
2215
2230
1825
0000
2332
2206
19/08
03/08
02/08
30/07
05/08
08/08
03/08
04/08
16/08
27/07
01/08
08/08
11/08
31/07
13/08
01/08
20/08
06/08
09/08
21/07
03/08
10/08
23/08
22/08
23/08
22/08
22/08
31/07
27/07
03/08
24/07
27/07
05/08
11/08
31/07
16/08
14/08
20/08
10/08
27/07
02/08
06/08
09/08
06/08
28/07
06/08
08/08
31/07
03/08
03/08
09/08
27/07
24/06
12/08
05/08
03/08
13/08
RM
GB
MLF
ap
CS
MLF
MLF
CS
MLF
MTG
MLF
MLF
RP
MLF
AP
CS
AP
DH
NRe
CRS
GB
MLF
RC
DK
NR
HKf
GS
MLF
MLF
DK
NRe
SHo
DH
RP
ap
MLF
MLF
SH
DH
JCa
CS
DH
MLF
DH
SHo
MLF
MLF
MLF
GB
RP
MLF
SHo
CRS
HKf
DH
HKf
RAD*
28/07 MLF
6150
6150
6159.95
6160
6165
6175
6185
6195
6195
6195
6280
7240
7255
7255
7260
7265
7275
7285
7305
7310
7315
7315
7315
7365
7385
7400
7415
7415
7445
7445
7445
7460
7495
7505
7550
7550
7550
7550
7570
7585
7730
9295usb
9300
9335
9345
9370
9370
9380
9390
9390
9390
9390
9400
9410
9410
9410
9420
9420
9420
2300
2320
2259
2225
0611
1847
1904
1747
1836
2320
2221
2230
2128
2133
2232
0612
2138
2007
0614
1438
1930
1951
2359
2048
2052
0705
2009
2156
1723
1724
1800
2202
2245
2247
1806
1819
1832
1900
0000
2343
0500
1930
1530
2128
1535
1539
1605
1904
1936
1903
1940
2045
1953
0002
1722
1735
0408
1613
2255
~
333
233
334
333
344
343
333
343
242
343
444
444
343
fair
333
fr/gd
455
344
444
443
444
332
243
343
444
444
333
333
354
333
343
444
444
454
444
454
444
243
555
252
~~
242
333
343
332
343
343
343
444
exlnt
344
354
343
333
343
454
343
544
02/08
02/08
11/08
16/08
06/08
28/07
09/08
19/08
27/07
03/08
28/07
31/07
05/08
10/08
13/08
06/08
17/08
27/07
08/08
09/08
09/08
27/07
12/08
28/07
28/07
02/08
27/07
05/08
05/08
07/08
30/07
10/08
31/07
31/07
01/08
05/08
27/07
28/07
22/08
12/08
03/08
23/08
14/08
03/08
14/08
14/08
13/08
13/08
07/08
09/08
03/08
06/08
27/07
13/08
05/08
10/08
03/08
13/08
12/08
HK
DK
DK
MTG
DH
SHo
MLF
JCa
SHo
SHo
MLF
MLF
DH
MLF
RAD*
DH
RAD*
SHo
MLF
DH
JCa
SHo
JK
MLF
MLF
CS
SHo
DH
DH
SHo
NRe
MLF
MLF
MLF
JCa
DH
SHo
NRe
DK
JK
RP
ARo
MLF
MLF
MLF
MLF
MLF
MLF
JCa
SHo
GB
MLF
SHo
JK
DH
SHo
RP
MLF
JK
9420
9420
9430
9440
9445
9445
9455
9475
9475
9475
9475
9485
9485
9485
9510
9510
9515
9525.8
9535
9540
9540
9540
9550
9580
9585
9600
9605
9625
9630
9630
9635
9655
9655
9655
9660
9660
9660
9665
9665
9665
9665
9689.9
9700
9700
9710
9710
9710
9710
9715
9715
9715
9730
9730
9730
9730
9745
9745
9750
9755
2259
2320
2000
0650
1831
2213
1630
1748
0753
0813
1742
0850
1301
1354
1000
1102
1610
1925
2300
1750
1727
1732
2108
0814
2112
2017
1628
1718
1634
1716
0703
2001
2120
2131
2000
2115
2141
1953
1907
2116
2125
2005
0545
0836
0701
0707
0719
0810
1939
1954
2001
1928
1615
1911
2011
0030
1625
1504
1706
343
444
fair
343
242
444
344
343
243
333
333
333
444
353
444
444
242
poor
353
555
555
455
343
222
344
555
343
444
243
343
443
252
444
444
444
343
444
544
455
232
333
fr/gd
555
222
444
344
243
333
544
444
455
444
444
455
good
252
222
242
344
03/08
05/08
03/08
27/07
27/07
09/08
08/08
28/07
06/08
05/08
07/08
09/08
10/08
03/08
10/08
10/08
14/08
03/08
12/08
28/07
05/08
07/08
06/08
05/08
06/08
29/07
14/08
05/08
14/08
13/08
27/07
16/08
07/08
05/08
10/08
09/08
09/08
07/08
15/08
09/08
06/08
03/08
01/08
06/08
04/08
27/07
28/07
05/08
07/08
27/07
15/08
09/08
06/08
15/08
03/08
29/07
12/08
03/08
08/08
SHo
DK
GB
MLF
SHo
DH
MLF
JCa
MLF
DH
SHo
DK
DH
RP
MLF
DH
MLF
GB
JK
JCa
DH
SHo
MLF
DH
MLF
SHo
MLF
DH
MLF
MLF
MLF
SH
CS
DH
CB
SHo
DH
JCa
PP
SHo
MLF
GB
CS
DH
CS
MLF
SHo
DH
JCa
SHo
PP
JCa
DH
PP
GB
RP
RP
MLF
MLF
9755
9755
9755
9760
9765
9780
9785
9785
9785
9785
9790
9810
9815
9820
9820
9820
9820
9830
9830
9835
9855
9860
9860
9875
9885
9895
9900
9915
9925
9935
9940
9975
10000
11520
11520
11565
11565
11580
11595
11610
11615
11615
11620
11625
11625
11635
11635
11635
11650
11660
11660
11660
11660
11665
11670
11670
11670
11670
11670
1800
1814
2146
2015
2215
1712
1855
1835
1835
1840
1653
2021
2238
1850
1804
1850
1914
2202
2241
1928
2244
1730
1759
1935
2030
2131
2255
2002
1837
0435
1938
1843
2034
0846
1011
0900
1010
1820
1331
1521
1908
2022
1602
1732
1734
1920
1902
2029
2154
2000
2210
2218
2226
1413
1821
1830
1833
2108
2214
433
444
343
good
555
344
555
555
555
444
343
good
343
444
344
344
343
444
444
233
332
444
433
343
good
332
232
455
242
454
343
344
fair
444
433
252
333
333
354
444
455
343
333
444
354
343
434
343
343
343
pr/fr
fair
555
333
444
545
454
444
433
23/07
05/08
06/08
03/08
09/08
08/08
09/08
06/08
01/08
28/07
14/08
03/08
03/08
09/08
27/07
19/08
13/08
09/08
03/08
13/08
03/08
14/08
14/08
13/08
03/08
09/08
16/08
27/07
08/08
01/08
13/08
08/08
03/08
05/08
06/08
10/08
06/08
05/08
16/08
09/08
15/08
29/07
07/08
05/08
07/08
09/08
15/08
07/08
27/07
13/08
13/08
17/08
12/08
05/08
05/08
15/08
27/07
16/08
12/08
NRe
DH
MLF
GB
DH
MLF
JCa
DH
CS
SHo
MLF
GB
MLF
JCa
SHo
DK
MLF
DH
MLF
MLF
MLF
MLF
SH
MLF
GB
DH
MTG
SHo
MLF
RM
MLF
MLF
GB
PP
DH
RP
DH
DH
PP
DH
PP
MLF
DH
DH
SHo
JCa
PP
MLF
MLF
MLF
RAD*
RAD*
JK
DH
DH
PP
SHo
MTG
JK
11675
11675
11675
11675
11695
11695
11695
11695
11695
11695
11720
11725
11725
11725
11725
11725
11730
11730
11730
11735
11735
11735
11750
11760
11760
11764.7
11765
11765
11765
11770
11780
11780
11780
11785
11800
11800
11810
11845
11845
11850
11854.9
11855
11865
11865
11865
11890
11890
11890
11895
11900
11900
11945
11945
11945
11945
11955
11955
11955
11965
1414
1505
1554
1600
1430
2032
2115
2137
2215
2217
1335
0535
0645
0715
0755
1927
2129
2224
2300
1800
1803
2026
1640
1340
2202
2132
1415
1431
2032
2147
2036
2138
2222
2308
1900
2130
2201
1730
1750
2100
2213
2228
1613
1959
2132
1401
1506
1530
1552
1753
2216
0655
0815
0852
0902
2016
2127
2328
2044
222
333
354
422
455
343
444
444
fair
433
343
343
422
242
534
242
444
453
454
433
333
343
343
555
343
232
222
455
343
242
243
232
good
343
422
444
333
354
444
343
242
good
333
242
333
333
333
433
354
444
343
333
434
343
333
343
444
544
343
05/08
05/08
08/08
08/08
15/08
07/08
16/08
03/08
03/08
12/08
02/08
01/08
30/07
28/07
14/08
14/08
05/08
12/08
12/08
22/07
13/10
11/08
16/08
03/08
27/07
16/08
05/08
15/08
11/08
02/08
11/08
16/08
03/08
31/07
27/07
05/08
09/08
07/08
06/08
07/08
27/07
03/08
06/08
27/07
05/08
06/08
05/08
10/08
08/08
06/08
27/07
10/08
05/08
05/08
06/08
13/08
05/08
12/08
11/08
DH
DH
SHo
NRe
PP
MLF
MTG
SHo
GB
JK
RC
CS
NRe
SHo
PP
MLF
DH
JK
JK
NRe
DH
MLF
MLF
RP
MLF
MTG
DH
PP
MLF
MLF
MLF
MTG
GB
MLF
NRe
DH
DH
SHo
DH
MLF
MLF
GB
DH
SHo
DH
DH
DH
NRe
SHo
DH
MLF
DH
DH
PP
DH
MLF
DH
JK
MLF
11980
11985
11995
11995
11995
12000
12010
12010
12015
12015
12020
12035
12040
12055
12085
12085
12085
12085
12085
12095
12095
12095
12105
12105
12105
12120
12125
12895
13570
13580
13580
13580
13580
13580
13580
13580
13605
13610
13610
13620
13630
13630
13630
13640
13650
13650
13650
13660
13660
13670
13675
13690
13695
13695
13710
13710
13710
13750
13760
0600
2150
1606
1614
2056
2220
2310
2321
1745
1956
2222
1530
2050
1600
1535
0910
1306
1603
1647
0720
1550
2100
1627
2057
2324
1735
1607
1547
1759
1759
1747
1800
1816
1826
1829
1859
1242
0723
1308
1840
0626
1545
2137
1855
1045
1222
1700
1712
1835
1728
1655
1554
1745
1822
0819
1334
1416
0638
1303
16/08
05/08
28/07
06/08
17/08
27/07
31/07
03/08
07/08
30/07
27/07
09/08
11/08
09/08
28/07
11/08
05/08
27/07
24/07
28/07
13/08
07/08
07/08
13/08
31/07
05/08
09/08
28/07
06/08
19/08
06/08
29/07
05/08
11/08
15/08
27/07
14/08
27/07
05/08
11/08
08/08
03/08
03/08
11/08
26/07
06/08
14/08
14/08
27/07
14/08
07/08
03/08
14/08
05/08
05/08
16/08
05/08
08/08
05/08
MLF
MLF
JCa
DH
RAD*
MLF
MLF
SHo
SHo
MLF
MLF
MLF
MLF
MLF
JCa
DH
DH
MTG
SHo
SHo
NRe
SHo
DH
MLF
MLF
DH
MLF
JCa
DH
JCa
DH
NRe
DH
SH
PP
SHo
MLF
MLF
DH
SH
MLF
MLF
SHo
SH
MLF
DH
SH
SH
SHo
SH
MLF
MLF
SH
DH
DH
PP
DH
MLF
DH
13760
13760
13760
13760
13760
13760
13760
13760
13765
13780
13780
13810
13810
13830
13845
13845
13845
13845
13870
13870
14670
15000
15030
15090
15115
15120
15120
15120
15120
15120
15120
15130
15130
15130
15140
15140
15140
15150
15160
15180
15180
15190
15190
15190
15190
15190
15190
15190
15190
15190
15195
15205
15205
15215
15225
15235
15235
15240
15240
1335
1730
1735
1747
2117
2130
2144
2146
1745
1559
1605
1416
1453
1611
1200
1335
1455
2227
1759
1804
1922
1920
1100
1304
1350
0955
0600
0816
0846
0945
0945
1108
1115
1128
1425
1424
2139
1322
1330
1130
1631
1515
0715
1500
1737
1812
1835
1912
2202
2246
1105
1412
1422
1846
1410
1720
1745
1107
2301
23/07
06/08
17/08
07/08
27/07
27/07
16/08
05/08
06/08
07/08
03/08
20/07
05/08
03/08
09/08
05/08
05/08
12/08
11/08
11/08
03/08
03/08
26/07
16/08
06/08
06/08
10/08
05/08
05/08
24/07
07/08
06/08
01/08
11/08
27/07
05/08
13/08
16/08
16/08
02/08
07/08
27/07
02/08
27/07
05/08
07/08
15/08
03/08
17/08
03/08
26/07
27/07
15/08
27/07
06/08
05/08
11/08
26/07
03/08
NRe
DH
CB
SHo
SHo
MLF
MTG
DH
DH
DH
MLF
JCa
DH
MLF
NRe
DH
DH
JK
SH
SH
GB
GB
MLF
PP
MLF
JCa
CS
DH
PP
NRe
DK
DH
CS
PP
JCa
DH
RAD*
PP
PP
MLF
DH
JCa
NRe
MTG
DH
MLF
PP
GB
RAD*
GB
MLF
JCa
PP
SHo
MLF
DH
JK
MLF
SHo
15245
15245
15245
15245
15245
15245
15245
15245
15245
15245
15245
15250
15250
15250
15255
15275
15275
15310
15315
15344.5
15345
15345.22
15350
15360
15360
15360
15370
15375
15400
15400
15400
15400
15400
15400
15400
15415
15415
15415
15415
15435
15450
15450
15450
15450
15450
15450
15460
15465
15470
15475
15485
15485
15490
15490
15520
15520
15540
15540
15540
1800
1304
1347
1357
1507
1818
1820
1824
2115
2145
2145
1609
1425
1651
0600
1908
1742
1358
1900
2136
1815
1916
0820
1635
1436
1652
1438
1400
1109
1115
1129
1724
1735
1738
1800
0620
0654
2135
2210
1737
1437
1243
1245
1427
1438
1514
1528
0821
1455
1030
1610
1645
0800
0811
0817
1638
1922
1625
1735
01/08
05/08
10/08
06/08
05/08
11/08
09/08
05/08
27/07
09/08
05/08
28/07
06/08
08/08
23/07
13/08
11/08
06/08
07/08
27/07
05/08
03/08
05/08
28/07
06/08
08/08
06/08
27/07
06/08
05/08
11/08
05/08
06/08
11/08
07/08
09/08
10/08
03/08
10/08
11/08
27/07
14/08
05/08
05/08
27/07
06/08
06/08
05/08
06/08
10/08
09/08
08/08
14/08
05/08
05/08
08/08
09/08
06/08
11/08
JCa
DH
PP
MLF
DH
JK
CS
DH
SHo
DK
DH
JCa
MLF
DH
JCa
JCa
JK
DH
MLF
MLF
DH
GB
DH
JCa
MLF
DH
MLF
MTG
DH
CS
PP
DH
NRe
JK
SHo
CS
DH
SHo
DK
JK
JCa
DH
CS
DH
MTG
MLF
MLF
DH
MLF
MLF
MLF
DH
PP
DH
DH
DH
JCa
MLF
JK
15540
15540
15550
15550
15565
15570
15570
15570
15570
15570
15575
15575
15575
15580
15580
15580
15580
15580
15580
15580
15595
15610
15620
15640
15650
15660
15660
15700
15715
15720
15735
15735
15735
15770
15770
15780
15790
15795
15825
15825
15825
15825
15825
16450
17480
17490
17490
17500
17505
17510
17515
17530
17530
17560
17630
17630
17630
17670
17670
1834
1840
1306
1628
0818
0640
0650
1730
1731
1736
1301
1305
1349
1510
1648
1726
1756
1800
1827
2142
1625
1200
1648
1520
1320
1318
1320
0642
1116
2236
1415
1410
1415
0540
1300
1330
1639
1058
1200
1323
1638
1656
1727
1043
0822
0840
1246
1610
0625
1002
1455
0600
1336
0008
1205
1309
1421
1110
1130
455
444
454
444
333
544
444
454
444
252
222
242
444
444
444
444
344
433
534
333
544
433
353
444
333
333
343
444
343
fair
343
333
222
353
233
343
454
333
222
333
454
333
444
232
333
555
555
242
444
354
332
454
344
fair
544
444
444
333
545
15/08
01/08
16/08
06/08
05/08
09/08
10/08
11/08
05/08
07/08
05/08
14/08
10/08
05/08
11/08
05/08
07/08
28/07
15/08
05/08
05/08
03/08
11/08
08/08
05/08
05/08
14/08
10/08
26/07
03/08
27/07
05/08
24/07
15/08
26/07
14/08
11/08
08/08
08/08
05/08
11/08
08/08
06/08
10/08
05/08
05/08
06/08
16/08
09/08
10/08
03/08
15/08
08/08
14/08
07/08
05/08
05/08
06/08
11/08
PP
CS
PP
MLF
DH
CS
DH
JK
DH
SHo
DH
MLF
PP
DH
JK
DH
SHo
NRe
PP
DH
CS
NRe
JK
DH
MTG
DH
MLF
DH
MLF
GB
JCa
DH
NRe
RM
NRe
MLF
JK
DH
NRe
DH
JK
DH
DH
MLF
DH
PP
DH
MLF
CS
PP
MLF
RM
MLF
RAD*
CS
DH
DH
DH
PP
17670
17670
17680
17690
17700
17780
17780
17790
17790
17800
17820
17820
17830
17830
17895
17895
17895
17895
17895
19000
19060
21500
21505
21515
21520
21540
21610
21660
21660
21660
21780
21780
21790
1340
1823
1100
1102
1510
1725
1750
1323
1514
0615
1030
1106
0717
1752
1520
1511
1540
1757
1826
2300
1840
0545
1335
1100
0854
1336
1556
1504
1550
1648
1337
1355
0853
14/08
05/08
04/08
10/08
03/08
05/08
07/08
16/08
03/08
09/08
03/08
10/08
28/07
07/08
27/07
05/08
11/08
07/08
27/07
03/08
MLF
DH
CS
MLF
MLF
DH
SHo
PP
MLF
CS
CS
MLF
SHo
SHo
JCa
DH
RP
SHo
SHo
SHo
29/07
06/08
16/08
25/07
05/08
16/08
08/08
05/08
08/08
08/08
16/08
08/08
05/08
RP
CS
PP
SHo
PP
PP
SHo
DH
SHo
DH
PP
MLF
PP
Digital
kHz
UTC
5940
7330
7435
9540
9780
9800
11810
13720
15120
15585
1906
0514
0610
1810
0750
2002
1705
1145
1840
1133
17/18/19/17/21/18/19/19/22/20/-
06/08
15/08
15/08
14/08
13/08
13/08
14/08
13/08
06/08
15/08
RT
RT
RT
RT
RT
RT
RT
RT
RT
RT
Many thanks to all contributors for this months healthy selection of logs, which come in a month
that has seen an ever changing picture on the HF bands. In recent weeks the Voice of Russia
has left SW, perhaps to come back in October. The Voice of America have almost completely
pulled out of the bands, Radio Australia have all but ended specific international programming
and Radio Exterior de Espana have announced the end of their SW years. More on all of this in
DX News.
Until next month, 73s and take care
Stephen
61
UTC
95.4
95.5
96.1
846
1350
1386
1512
1592
1611
1611
1620
1620
1638
1630
1630
1630
1630
1637
1646
1646
3905
4026
6193
6199
6199
6200
6200
6205
6205
6205
6205
6210
6210
6210
6210
6214
6220
6220
6220
6220
6220
6220
6238
6239
6239
6240
6240
6240
6240
6240
1512
1524
1550
2214
2330
2240
2233
2310
2055
2110
2035
2210
2024
2044
2110
2032
2034
1909
1946
2017
2206
2337
2028
2044
2108
1025
2010
0753
0855
2227
6205
1835
1818
2153
1920
1810
2007
1815
1946
0903
1901
2028
2023
07l32
0840
2012
1853
2225
2047
2058
Station + details
Date
Contributor(s)
6247
6253
6254
6255
6260
6260
6265
6265
6265
6282
6285
6285
6285
6286
6289
6290
6290
6290
6290
6290
6294
6295
6295
6295
6296
6297
6300
6300
6300
6304
6305
6305
6305
6305
6305
6305
6305
6306
6320
6322
6322
6322
6322
6324
6325
6328
6375
6399
6404
6422
6725
6725
6746
6770
6802
6949
6965
6978
2218
2020
1700
1941
0846
1917
1847
1928
2224
1854
0344
1125
1107l
2105
1811
2053
2036
2232
2055
1941
0837
2004
1434
2153
2145
2058
2123
1751
1001
1808
2138
1945
0906
2102
2020
0950
2134
2016
1700
2110
2205
1829
1949
2050
0958
2053
1930
2003
1901
1853
1210
1833
2008
2308
1819
2031
2056
1850
63
Pirate radio station scuppered as plug pulled An OAP cancer survivor has been prosecuted
for setting up a radio station to support fellow sufferers. Brian Barfoot, 70, of St David's Way,
Wickford, appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court last Friday, 8 August, to admit broadcasting
from a pirate radio station. He insisted he had only created the station to offer advice and support
for men with cancer, claiming there was a bias in the media towards women's charities. He said
complicated registration processes had deterred him from seeking a radio licence. He pleaded
guilty to one charge of establishing or using a wireless telegraphy station without a licence and
one charge of being in charge of a premises and knowingly failing to prevent its use for unlawful
broadcasting. He ran the station named in court documents as Monster House Radio from a
unit in Russell Court, Wickford. He was ordered to pay 250 in fines, 500 in prosecution costs
and a 20 victim surcharge. Speaking after his court appearance, he told how he had been
'raided' over the offences and had all his equipment seized. He said: Heavy-handed isn't the
word. Magistrates ordered all his radio equipment be forfeited and destroyed as part of his
punishment. Mr Barfoot said: It's an absolutely, 100 per cent stupid prosecution. There are
pirate radio stations out there that have been going on for 10 or 11 years, but they pick on me?
Come on. There is no way any small, self-sufficient radio station can apply for a licence. You
have to fill out about 67 pages of forms. Speaking of his decision to set up the station, he said:
There is nothing out there that helps the male species who have cancer. I was giving
awareness. That was what it was for. (Yellow Advertiser 14 August via MET)
Monster House Radio is listed as 88.3 and transmitting to Essex and the Medway. They play
house music. Amongst various photos of house music DJ's and plugs for programmes on their
Facebook page there is a Cancer Research UK banner. (MWB)
Pirate Radio Museum, Clacton-on-Sea we paid a visit to Ray Andersons new venture next to
the pier in Clacton on the way back from visiting the Radio Mi Amigo RSL aboard the LV18 in
Harwich. It is sited in the Atlanta Building, a short walk from where we had parked for free on the
promenade. First impression on entering, was that of a pop-up remainder shop you find on many
High Streets, though this one was selling lots of offshore radio memorabilia: DVDs, T Shirts,
sweat shirts, CDs, books, even videos, cassettes and old vinyl records! Plus merchandise
bearing the Pirate Radio Museum logo. Unlike a
remainder shop though, none of it was cheap. This part
of the building is free to enter, as its really a shop selling
some of EAPs products which are also found online at
radiofab.com. So very little in the way of Museum
exhibits yet. The best part of the Museum is the audiovisual display Anarchy on the Airwaves which costs 5
to see for adults. You walk through the display, station by
station, which tells the story of most of the British
offshore stations, from Radio Caroline and Atlanta in
1964, through to Caroline in the 80s and Laser 558, told
mainly in large historic photos of ships, DJs etc. There is
also a small screen where you can watch about 5
minutes of historic film on each station. We did have to
keep turning the volume up (and down on adjacent screens) to listen interference free though
headphones would have been better than the TV speakers. I thought the display was quite well
done though as a general history of UK offshore radio, and we spent an enjoyable three quarters
of an hour wandering through it and had it to ourselves on a Monday morning. Dominating the
Museum is a bright yellow 60s style submarine ( perhaps part of a fairground ride?) the purpose
of which eluded me. And I did buy something in the shop a copy of Chris Elliots book, The
Wonderful Radio London Story, which Id wanted for ages. (It was full price at 24.99 but I saved
on postage by buying there!) (AP)
Pirate Radio Museum, 1st Floor, Atlanta Building, Clacton-on- Sea CO15 1QX (next to the pier)
Admission to Anarchy on the Airwaves Audio Visual exhibition: 5 (adults). Opening hours
1000-1700 daily (summer). Check website for winter opening: www.pirateradiomuseum.com
64
Radio Caroline Southampton Support group meeting Roland Beaney writes: Early news of
the next Radio Caroline Southampton Support group meeting that will take place on Wednesday
24 September from 7pm at the usual venue the Netley Victoria club near Southampton, SO31
5DG. Meet special guests, broadcasters and staff from the station and hear news of the work on
board the Ross Revenge. This time we will be celebrating another year of Peter Smiths
sponsorship of the 60s and 70s show broadcast on Tuesday nights. So come along and meet
Barry James, Clive Garrard and the sponsor of the show Peter Smith. Buy your gifts from the
Caroline sales stand that Albert and Georgina Hood will be setting up. You are welcome to join
us for a 5 donation which includes a buffet and all proceeds from the evening go towards the
costs of restoration work on board the Ross Revenge.
There is accommodation available in the area if you want to stay the night. Recommended
accommodation within walking distance of the club at The Prince Consort pub (MET)
Laser Hot Hits The shortwave transmitter on 4015kHz has been off the air for most of this
month [July]. This is due to circumstances beyond our control and frustratingly happened around
the time the reduced power fault was fixed. We shall try to return to the 76m band just as soon as
possible. In the meantime our Internet streams continue 24 hours a day and we can still be heard
around 6950kHz at various times but most likely on Sundays. There may be some tests on 48m
too so please keep tuning around. (http://www.laserhothits.co.uk/ 24 July) Laser noted back on
shortwave, but on 4026 kHz, on 23 August, and still on 4026 today. They did move to 4015
originally because of utility interference on 4026, though seems clear at present. (AP 26 Aug)
Radio Veronica and RNI remembered - Dutch special event amateur station PD538RNI
On 31 August, it will be 40 years since the Dutch offshore radio stations stopped transmissions
due to changes in legislation. Many fans still mourn the loss of their beloved stations in 1974.
Arie PD0ARI (amateur radio operator) from Giessenburg, Netherlands will be operating Special
Event Station PD538RNI from 28 August until 19 September. He will be active on 10m, 20m and
40 m. All operations will be in Phone. 538 in the callsign stands for the last frequency the
offshore radio station Veronica used, and RNI stands for Radio Northsea International, the name
of the other station that had to stop 40 years ago. Both stations closed down in the evening of 31
August 1974. (http://www.southgatearc.org via MET
Radios Seagull and Waddenzee offshore From 20-31 August, Radio Seagull and Radio
Waddenzee are broadcasting live from the radio ship LV Jenni Baynton anchored off the Dutch
coast of Harlingen on 1602 kHz as well as online at radioseagull.com. Radio Waddenzee in
Dutch is on air daytime from 0500-1700 UTC with Radio Seagull's English service overnight from
1700-0500 UTC. Andy Sennitt writes that During the live broadcasts, the web feed is using the
mediumwave signal, thus giving you the feel of listening on mediumwave wherever you are. I'll
be on board for the whole of next week, and really looking forward to it. Normally our radio ship
is anchored in the harbour at Harlingen, in Friesland. But every so often, we go out to sea to
promote the station and make a small amount of money by offering visitors the chance to come
and visit the ship. The 31st August 2014 is the 40th anniversary of
the closure of RNI and Radio Veronica when the Dutch passed their
own Marine Offences Act. The British equivalent had already been in
force since 14 August 1967. But Radio Veronica was soon back on
the air, landbased and licensed. On board the Jenni Baynton are
several mediumwave transmitters, but we are only licensed to
broadcast on 1602 kHz. The whole station is run by people who love
radio and rock music :-) (Andy Sennitt on Facebook via MET)
Martin van der Ven has uploaded 299 photos and 7 videos taken on
Saturday (23 August) of Radio Seagull and Radio Waddenzee
broadcasting offshore from the Jenni Baynton to Flickr, at this link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/offshoreradio/sets/72157646796008771/ (MWB on Facebook)
65
Radio Caroline ship drops anchor in the River Blackwater An iconic pirate pop radio ship
has dropped anchor in the River Blackwater for the first time since the mid-1990s, with plans to
take over the airwaves. Radio Caroline, the world's most famous pirate radio station, which is
housed on the ship MV Ross Revenge, has docked just off the shore of Bradwell after leaving its
home of 10 years in Tilbury docks last Thursday (31 July).
The station altered the face of pop music by challenging the established radio format in the
1960s, 70s and 80s by playing 24 hours of pop music a day, and tracks that other radio stations
wouldn't. Now the team is back on the Blackwater for the first time since 1993, and plan to use a
temporary 28-day radio licence to give Maldon and the Dengie a taste of the famous station
whilst they apply for an AM licence to operate permanently. Manager of the Ross Revenge Peter
Moore, 67, who lives in Maldon and who has been involved with Radio Caroline since 1976, said:
"It's nice to be back at Bradwell on the Essex coast again. We've had a lot of support from the
local community and we hope to get more involved. It was a hard old slog to get the boat here
and we're glad to be back we've had a great reaction so far from the local community."
(http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Pirate-station-Radio-Caroline-drops-anchor-River/story22121919-detail/story.html via MET)
Above, view of the Ross Revenge with its new mast, anchored in the River Blackwater.
The ship can be seen in the far distance from Bradwell Marina, at Bradwell Waterside, Bradwellon-Sea. It is quite a walk from the visitors car park to the shore and not really worth the effort of
going to Bradwell as the ship is really only a speck in the distance. Access and visibility might be
better from St Lawrences Bay just west of Bradwell, but I would advise waiting as boat trips out
to visit the Ross are being planned, as is an RSL broadcast next Easter. (DK - visit on 18 August)
FCC upholds $15,000 pirate radio fine The FCC has upheld a $15,000 fine for Walter and M.
Rae Nadler-Olenick for operating a pirate station in Austin, Texas. They had appealed against
the penalty, but the appeal was rejected. The Olenicks operated an unlicensed station on 90.1
MHz, according to the bureau. In 2013, agents traced the signal to their apartment building and
found an antenna mounted on an approximately 50-foot tower attached to the building. A coaxial
cable ran from the antenna to a utility room, according to the agency. (Radio World via MET)
66
Adam Toynton
Torquay, Devon
DX 394, Yaesu FRG100, homemade loops, DX10 vertical
Arthur Miller
Llandrindod Wells, Powys JRC NRD 525, NRD 545, G5RV 40m long wire.
Alan Pennington
Caversham, Berkshire
AOR 7030+ / LW, Beverage, ALA1530, / Sony 7600GR
Alan Pennington
Longton, Lancs
Sony 7600GR + homebrew MW loop
Alan Roe
Teddington, Middx
Winradio G31DDC Excalibur / 17m long wire
Axel Rse
Neuss, Germany
Lowe HF-150 & Loop Antenna AOR LA-320
Chrissy Brand
Salford, Gtr Manchester
Sony ICF 7600D, Sony ICFSW100E, Degen active loop
Chris Stacey
Eastbourne, East Sussex
ICFSW7600G / internal ferrite & telescopic whip
Christopher Shorten Norwich, Norfolk
Eton Satellit 750, 10m long wire
David Harris
Emsworth, Hants
Realistic DX 394, 15m long wire
Dave Kenny
Caversham, Berkshire AOR 7030+/Wellbrook ALA1530, 90m bev, LW, Sony XDR F1HD
Edwin Southwell
Basingstoke, Hants
Drake R8A, 50m longwire
Giampiero Bernardini Milan, Italy
Drake R7 + Perseus; antenna: T2FD 15m
Gabby Simmonds
Edgware, Middx
Sony ICF2001D + telescopic
Harald Kuhl
Fjerritslev, Northern Jylland, Denmark DX beverages
Jeff Canavan
Berwick, Northumberland
Degen 1103, Roberts R876, telescopic, 10m lw
Faversham Kent
JRC NRD515 / Wellbrook ALA1530 LF
John Hoad
Jonathan Kempster London, E14
Sony ICF-SW7600G, Icom 718 / helical vertical aerial
Jouke van der Galien Vries, Drenthe, Netherlands Sony ICF SW 7600 GR + telescope & 2m wire
Kevin O'Daly
Rickmansworth, Herts
Sony 2001D, 50ft longwire
Mike Terry
Bournemouth, Dorset
Eton E5,Yupiteru MVT7100, Eton mini 300, Ryland loop
Michael L Ford
Newcastle-u-Lyme, Staffs
NRD515, NCM515, NRD545, 85' lw, Wellbrook 330ALA loop
Mike German
Hayfield, Derbyshire
AOR AR5000A+3 Wellbrook ALA1530 loop
Mike Barraclough
Letchworth Garden City
AOR 7030 60m LW, Sony ICF7600G, Degen active loop
Nick Rank
Buxton, Derbyshire
Sony ICF2001D, long wire and passive tuner
Nigel Reid
Enfield. Middlesex
Eton Satellit 750, indoor long wire
Norbert Scheel
Berlin, Germany
Grundig-Satellit 3000, magnetic loop Grahn GS2 ML2
Paul Price
Cardigan, Ceredigion
FRG7000, Sony ICF2001D & DX934, lw
Russ Cummings
North Ferriby, East Yorks
AOR 7030+, 60 ft long wire
Richard A. D'Angelo Wyomissing PA, USA TenTec RX340, Drake R8B, Eton E1/E5, Alpha DX Sloper/RF sys mini
Rafael Martnez Barcelona, Catalonia Grundig YB400, G3, RP6901PLL; indoor wire+MFJ-956 tuner, Tecsun AN-200 loop
Rumen Pankov
Sofia, Bulgaria
Sony ICF2001D & VEF201, Ant Folded Marconi 16m
Richard Thurlow
Ipswich, Suffolk SDR Perseus,WR G313, AOR 7030+,DSP-599ZX, Alpha Delta sloper ALAloop
Stephen Howie
London SW13
Eton G3 receiver with Sony AN-71 5m LW
Simon Hockenhull
Bristol
Grundig Sat 700, YB 400, ferrite rods, AKD Target HF3+4m LW
Tim Bucknall
Congleton, Cheshire
RDR54D1. CLP5130, Icom ICR9500, CLP5130 VHF/UHF V+H
Wolfgang Bschel
Stuttgart, Germany
Perseus, AOR AR7030 and PC/Dream software
* in HFL denotes HF log from outside Europe (in MWL denotes MW log from outside UK)
68